I t*** - University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. NON-KWABIE NOW 7 1997 HIV kQ?. DDE 2 WKS m OAFE RECEIVED COMMENTARY UPON THE TWO BOOKS OF I N JOT? & T T A 3 M MO O a A COMMENTARY UPON THE TWO BOOKS O F K I N G S. ThcRight Reyercnd Father in GOB* STfMON Lord Bifcop of EL % L N D Printed for &u Ct)i(t9ll at the Rofe and Crown in St. P*H/'S Churchyard, 1705. A COMMENTARY u CHAP. I. Verfe i . Verfe i .^7 W David was old and ftricktn in years."] L\ For he was Seventy Years old, as we learn, from 2 Sam. V. 4, 5. Ajtd they covered him with clothes, but he got no heat."] His Blood was Co chill'd, that he could not be warm in his Bed : Much lefs when he was up. Dr. Lightfoot thinks he was (truck with a dead Palfy. Verfe i* Vcr..x. Wherefore hif fervantsl] His Phyficians, it is moft likely, that attended him. Said unto him, Let there he fonght for my Lord the Kixg.~] Thefe are the words of the Prime Phyfician, in the Name of the reft. A young Virgin^ and let her ft and before the King.~] Or minifter unto htm in the Day-time: For the very Sight of a Beautiful Virgin very much excites the Na- tural Spirits. And let her cberiftj him, and let her lie in thy Bofofft."] Become his Wife, and in the Night lie in the fame Bed clofe to him. That my Lofdtht King may get keat .] For nothing more effectually procures Heat and healthful Conco- ftion, than the Application of a young Body, even of a Puppy to the Stomach all Night: As Galen obferves in his Fifth Book of the Power of fimple Medicines. For aujut>fti?WTsgct, 19 CWCW^TE^ m/\u this Warmth is nearer of Kin to us, and more proper than any other that can be invented: teVi&orinn* hath taken notice. Ver. 5. the Firft Boo^ of K I N GS. Ver. 3. So they fought for A fair Damfel throughou all the Coafts oflfrael, and found Abifitg the Slmndmitt^ L and brought her to the King.'] She being young, fpright- L/"V ly, and willing to be taken into his Bed : For his^erfe 3. other Wives were grown too old to put any Life into him. Ver. 4. And the Damfel was very ft/r.~] Of an ami- Verfe 4. able Countenance, And cherijhed the King, and minijired to him t but the King knew her not.'] Did not enjoy her as his Wife; but (he remained ftill a Virgin . Being his Bedfellow only to keep him warm. Ver. 5. Then Adonijah the Son of Haggith exalted, Verfe 5, hiwfelf, faying^ 1 will be King."] Taking advantage of his Father's Age, and Weaknefs (who he thought could not oppofe it) he refolved to take Poffeffion of the Kingdom: But the Crown, as the Jews fancy, would rot fit his Head. And he prepared himfelf Chariots, and Horfemen, and fifty Men to run before him.] Juft as Abfalom had done, when he began to confpire againft his Father, 3 Sam. XV. i. Ver. 6. And his Father had not difpleafed htm atanyVtrft 6. time, in faying why haft thou done fo . Mother of Solomon, faying, haft thou not heard that Adonijah the Son of Haggith doth reign i] 1 1 feems they were fo bold as to proclaim him King. And David our Lord kporveth it not.~] For it was-fe- cretly contrived between him, and Joak 9 and the reft : Without the Privity of David or ofBatbjhebk, Ver. 12. Now therefore come, let me I pray theegive thee counfel^ that thou may ft fave thy own Life and the Life of thy Son Solomon^] Whom he knew they would endeavour to cut off : As the Perfon defigned by David to be his Succeflbr. Ver. 1, 6 A COMMENTARY pon Chapter Ver. 1 5 . Go, and get thee in unto King David, and |. fay unto him, dldft not than, my Lord, King facar /^>/NJ nnto thy Handwaid t faffg, ajfitredly Solomon thy Son Verfe i^-foall reign after me, and he jh all jit upon my Throne. Why then doth Adonijah reign?"] We do not read any where elfe of this Oath ^ but no doubt he had folemn- ly fworn to her, that he would make her Son his SuccefTor: God himfelf, having defigned him to that Honour,- as appears from 2 Saw. VII. 12. Where God promifes by Nathan to fee upon his Throne a Son that fhould proceed from him. Which plainly figni- fied, none of his Sons already born were to be the Perfon. Bqt more plainly, i Chron. XXII. 8, 9, 10, &c. he declares that God told him Solomon Ihculd reign after him, and build him an Houfe; and there- upon he commanded all the Princes of Ifrael to be affiftant to him, v. 17. And fee XXVIII. 5, 6. All this, I doubt not was known to Adonijah 5 which made his Crime the greater, in fetting himfelf againft the Decree of Heaven . And he himfelf confefles as much in the next Chapter, v. 15. Verfe 14. ^ er< I 4- Behold, while thou yet talkeft there with the King) I alfo will cvme in after thee, and confirm thy words.'} Which h knew would quicken the King, to give fpeedy Orders about this Matter. Verfe 1$. Ver. 15. And Bathfoeba went in unto the King, into the Chamber.'] Being the King's Wife (he had the Pri- viledge to come into his Bed-chamber, without ask- ing Leave, as Kimchi obferves. Whereas Nathan did not appear before the King, till they told him he was there to wait upon him, ^.23. And the King was very old."] And could not difcern who it was that entred into the Chamber. And Abifljag the Shunamite tttiniftred unto the King.~\ And informed him, it is likely, that Bathjbeba was come into the Room to fpeak with him. Ver. t be Fir ft Book^ of K I N G S. 7 Ver. 1 6. And Bathfheba bowed , and did Qbeyfance to Chapter the King.] Firft bowed her Head, and then her Bo- L ' dy . As the manner was even for their Wives, as L^Wf well as other Perfons. Verfe 1 6, And the King faid. What wouldeft thon .ko fliall fit upon the Throne of my Lord, the King^ after I. thee.~] This (he laid all Ifrael expeded from the King, C/"W> that (he might free him from all fear of fuch a Re- bellion as Abfalor,t raifed . The People not being joyned to Adonijah, bur continuing in Sufpence, till the King had declared his Mind about his Succeflbr. Thus Abarbjnel. And this Power of naming a Suc- ceflbr, continued for fome time after him, as appears by the Story of his Grandfon Rehoboam : Who though no great Man, yet took upon him this Au- thority of nominating a Succeflbr, and made one of his youngeft Sons, viz. Abijah King after him. See 7. Chron. XI. 20, 22, &c. But this Cuftom did not laft long $ not being in ufe among their Neighbours : As the Story of the Moabites (hows, 2 Kings 111,27. yet it was the manner of Excellent Princes among the Ro- mans to appoint their Succeflbr, whom the People gladly received. So AugHtttu did : And M. Aureliw commends Nerva for fo doing. Verfe 21. Vcr. 21. Otherwife it foatt come to pafi, when my 'Lord the King [haU fleep with hjf Fathers, that /, and my Son Solomon flwtt be accounted Offenders."} Guilty of Death for aiming at the Kingdom. Verfe 22. Ver. 22. And lo, while {he talked with the King Na- than the Prophet alfo came in.'] To confirm what (he had faid, according to his Promife, v. 14. Verfe 22, ^ er * 2 3* ^nd they told the King, frying^ behold Na- than the Prophet.] Whereupon Bathjheba, it is likely, withdrew, as if (he fuppofed he had fome private Mef- fage to deliver unto David. And when he was come in before the King, he bowed hi mfelf before the King^ with his face to the ground."} The Prophets themfelves, as well as other Men, gave the profoundeft Reverence to the King (as Maimoni- des obferves) that they might teach all his Subjects their Duty. -de Firft Book, BRINGS. p Daty, Nor was the High Prieft excepted. See &/;/r- Chapter kard de Jure Regno, Cap. IV. theorem XIH. The He- I. brew word is ufed for Religions Worfhip, in XLV. v-^V*^ Pfal. 12. XCV. 6. But very often, only for Political, and that very anciently, in the XXIII. Get. 7. H. Ruth 10. 2 if. XVI. 14. and many othfr Places. Ver. 24. And Nathan faid, my Lord, t) King, /><*/? Verfe 24. f hou faid Adonijahfoall reign after me, andhefljattfit upon my Throne ?~] He knew very well he had given no fuch Order 5 but he faid this to awaken the King to confider how prefurrtptious Adonijah was. Ver. 25. For he is gone down this iday^ and hathflain Verfe ^^ Gxea, and fat Cattle, and Sheep in abundance, and hath called all the Kings Sons, and the Captnid of the Hoft, and Abiathar the Prieft, and Mold they eat and drink, before him and fny, Godfafre King Add9tijnh.~l By this time Nathan had received perfeft Intelligence, what was the defign of that gfeat Feaft , and they had not only confulted to raife Adonijah to the Thrdne, but actually proclaimed him King. Which was triore than Bathfheba had told him. Ver. 26. But me, even me thy fervant, and ZadoJ^ Verfe 26. the Prieft, and Benaiah the Son of Jehoiadd, and thy fervant Solomon hath he not cal/ed.~] For he kneiw they wereallFaithful to King David $ and would follotf his Directions. Ver. 27. // ihit thing done by my Lord the King^ Verfe 27. andthoM haft not Jhetved it nnto thy fervant, tvho jhall fit on the Throne of my Lord the King after him .?] \r\ a matter of this Importance, he could not believe the King would aft without his Advice : Whom he wai wont to confult, on other Occafions ^ and who had acquainted him with the Mind of God concern- ing Solemon. C Ver. 28. I0 A COMMENTARr ufott Chapter Vcr. a<3. And King David anfwered and faid^ call I. me Bathfieba."] Who was withdrawn, as I faid, into L/VSJ another Room upon the coming in of Nathan : Or ftood at ft diftance in the Room where they were. And /he came into the Kings Prefence, and flood be* fore the King."] To understand his Pleasure. Verfe 29. Ver* 29. And the King fware, and faid, as the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my Soul out of all diftrefsJ] Unto whom he was fo much indebted, that it could not be thought he would take his Name in vain : But (he might truft him now that he fo fo- lemnly fware again to her. Verfe 30. Ver. 30. Even as I fware unto thee by the LORD God oflfraeli faying, Ajfiirtdly thy Son {hall reign after me^ and he fiattfit upon my Throne in my ftead, even fo will I certainly do this day.~] He had not forgotten his for- mer Oath, which he now renews : And refolves imme- diately to put it in Execution. Verfe 31. ^ er> 3 1 * Then Bat hjhela bowed her Face to the Earthy and did Reverence to the King."] Moft humbly acknow- ledged his Goodnefs^ by a lower Reverence than (he made before, v> 16. Andfaid^ let my Lord the King live for ever."] There could be no higher Expreffion of Love and Thank- fulnefs, than to defire never to fee Solomon on the Throne . If it were poffible for David, always to en- joy it. Vcrfe 32. Ver. 31. And King David faid, call me Zado^ the Prieft and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the Son of Jehoiada, and they came before the King^\ They were luch trufty and refolute Perfons -, that he knew would not fear to execute his Commands. Verfe 33. Vcr. 33. And the King faid unto them^ take with yon the fervants of your Lord."] His conftant Guards, Pektkites. Secv. 38. And the F/r/l Boo\ BRINGS- 1 1 And caufe Solomon my Son to ride upon my own Mule."] Chapter The reft of David's Sons were wont to ride upon I. Mules, when they went abroad, 2 Sam. XIII. 29. And A&falom rode upon a Mule, when he was hanged in the Oak, XVIII. 9. But David had a Mule peculiarly refer ved for himfelf alone 5 on which Solomon being fet, it was the beginning of his Royal Authority .- For no private Perfon whatfoever, as Abarbinel ob- ferves, might ride upon the King's Mule. He alfo further notes, that David ordered him to ride upon a Mule, and not upon an Horfe 5 becaufe an Horfe is prepared for Battle (XXL Prw.ji.) but a Mule is a quiet Creature : Signify ing the Peace, Tranquility, and Security, which they enjoyed in Solomons Reign. But the firft is the more pertinent Obfervation : For it was Capital (as Maimonides obferves) to ride upon the King's Horfe or Mule ; or fit in his Throne 3 or ufe his Scepter, &c. without the King's Order. As on the contrary to have the Honour to ride upon his Horfe, by his Order, was accounted the higheft Dignity a- mong the Perjians, as appears by the Story of Morde- cai in the VI. of Efther. And bring him down to Gibon."] A Fountain on the Weft- fide of Jerufalem, which divided it felf into two Streams, as fome fay, and made two Pools: That of Silo am , and that of Solomon mentioned by Jofepbw, L. VI. de Bello Judaico, Cap. 38. But Kim- chi^ and Abarbind alfo, take them Qnly for different Names for one and the fame Rivulet ; which was cal- led Gihon, and alfo Siloam^ as the Targum hath it. Hither they were ordered to bring down Solomon^ for it is a Maxim among the Jews, that they do not anoint a King, bnt near a Fountain : Though they have no Au thority for it, that I know of, but from this Chapter: Where we read of Adonijah's going to Enrogd, v. 9. C 2 and A COMMEtfTARr Chapter and Solomon* being brought to Gihon $ which was a\ I. Fountain, or Brook near Jerttfalef* : For thereabouts w*"V*w a great Number of People ufed always to be $ whom they would have toobierveit. The Jews give ano- ther reafon for it, in the Talmud^ that it might be a Signification, and good Omen of the Perpetuity of the Kingdom : Which mould continue Hke a Foun- tain, which runs perpetually. See Schickard in his Jits Regiunt^ Cap. I. Theor. IV. But from what is faid here of SoUmo*^ we cannot fafely make a general Conclufion, that all Rings were anointed at Fountains. For #ul the nrft King was nor 5 and in the Hiftory of David who was anointed three times, there is no mention of ft.. Verfe 34. Ver. 34, A*d let TLadok the Prieft and Nathan the Prophet, anamt hint there. King over ]jrael.~] One of them poured out the Oyl, and the other anointed him, as the fore-named Sckickard thinks it probable. Or, as others will have it, Zadok C as Vicar of the High Prie-ft, who in his Abfence performed all his Offices) did both: And N*tban the Prophet was Witnefs of the Divine Revelation and Promife that SeLwtou mould fucceed in the Kingdom. For Abar- bindis of opinion, that no King was anointed but by the Authority of a Prophet : Which is hard to be proved out of Scripture, as Carpvovitt* obferves. See v. 39. And blow y.Q with the Trumpet^ and fay, God fave King &olomn^\ Proclaim him to be the King of If- rael. The Hiftory of Abfalom mows that he was pro- claimed King by the Sound of the Trumpet, 2 $*9t. XV. 10. And when God proclaimed his Law, and himfelf the King of Jfrael, the Sound of the Trum- pet preceded with great Vehemence, XIX. Exod. 16. And hence many places in- the Pfalms are explained : Which Fir ft Boo% of KIN G S; 13 Which fry, God went up with the Sound of a Trum- Chapter pet, when, after the manner of Kings, he triumphed I. over his Enemies, XLVII. 5. XCVIII. 6. Ver. 35. Then ye [hall come up after him, that he majV&te come and Jit upon my Throne.] Attend upon him to Jt- rufakm, and give him actual Poffeffion of the Throne. For hefiallie King in tny ftead^ and I have, appoint" ed him to be Ruler over Ifraet, and over Judah^] To have the fame Authority over all the People, that Da* vJd had. Ver. 36. And BenaiahtheSonofJehoiadaan the King, andfaid, Amen7\ Cave his Confent, in the Name of all the reft : And I fuppofefware Allegiance to him. The LORD God ofmy Lord the King, fay Jo too."] They all faid the fame, v. 47. Nothing doubting God would eftablifh his Authority. Ver. 37. As the LORD hath been with my Lord the Verfe 27; . Kingi evenfo be he with Solomon : And mak$ hi? Throne greater than the Throne of my Lord King David7\ He knew David loved his Children fo paflionately, and defired their Happinefs fo much : That he was aflbred he fhould not offend him with this Wifh. In the Targum it is, As the WORD oftU LORD hath helped: my Lor 'd the King, &C. Ver. 38. SoZado^the Pried, and Nathan the Pro- Verfe 3!;'. phet^ and Ben ai ah the Son of Jekoiada, and the Cere- thites and the PelethitesI} This (and in ^.43^) is the laft time, that the Cerethites and Pelethites (whom Pr0c0/>/#f G z Kings XI. 4, 8cc. called Cert, or Cerim^ i. e. Arxates (not much different from Cretht) and Ratzrm, which he tranflates Cnrfores. But I leave this to better Judgments. Went down and caufed Solomon to ride on the Kings Mule, and brought him to Gihon.'] .According as King David had ordered, v. 34. Vtrfc 39. Vcr. 39. And Zado!{ the Prieft. "\ Here the anointing of him is attributed to the Prieft alone. And indeed theUncVions which are faid to be made by a Prophet, as Samuel anointed $*/ and David, were private, but not publick : Which was always done by the Prieft, as Fortunatns Scacchtts hath indeavoured to Ihow in his Third Myrothecittm, Cap.XLIX. and L. It muft be con- fefTed that the Prophet anointed Sattl'm Gilgal^ when he was publickly declar'd King : But then they offered Sacrifice, which could not be without the Prieft .- And the Ifraelites made a Covenant with David, when they anointed him in Hebron , which muft be by feaft- ing upon a Sacrifice offered by the Prieft. Yet a great many of the Jens are confident, that no Man, no not the High Prieft, could anoint a King, but only a Prophet, as Samuel did David, and Nathan (Abarbi- ttf/nere affirms) did Solomon^ and Ahijth did Jero- loo am. Took.'* Horn ofOjIJ) A Vefiel of Oyl as the Ara- bic^ tranflates it . Which Veflel was made of an Ox's Horn, as Bochartus obferves, L. II. Hierozoicon. Cap. XXXVII. P.I. They commonly made Cups of fuch Horns, whence the Creek word Kk^yau, to mingle Wine the Fir ft BooJ^of KINGS. 15 Wine with Water. See Fortuttatus Scacchus Myrothec. Chapter I. Cap.XLVIII. I. Out of the Tabernacle and anointed Solo won."] This Lrf^^^J made his Un&ion more folemn, and his Perfon more facred $ becaufe anointed with Holy Oyl. Though the Jews are generally of opinion, that it was not neceflary to anoint their Kings with this Holy Oyl made by Mofes. And indeed they all agree there was no neceffity of anointing them at all (the Sun being fufficiently anointed by the Unftion of his Father) unlefs there arofe a Controverfy about the Succeffion to the Crown. Thus Solomon was anointed becaufe of the Fa&ion of Adonijah^ Joafi becaufe of Atbalfab, and Jehu becaufe of Jorum- See Stlden L. 2. de Sue* ceff. in Pontif. Cap. IX. and Schickprd his Jus Reginm % Gap. I*; Theorem IV. Fortunatuf Scacchttf alfo hath fpent a whole Chapter, of a good length, to (how that a private Undtion might be made with any Oyl: But a publick by Oyl taken from the Tabernacle. Whence it is faid of David, with my Holy Oyl have I anointed thee. Yet he thinks that this Oyl preferved in the Tabernacle for that purpofe, was not the fame with the Oyl made by Mofes $ wherewith the High Prieft alone was anointed. This he confirms by no contemptible Arguments in his Myrothecium III. Sn* cror.EUochrifm. Cap. XLVIII. And they blew the Trumpet, and all the People faid + God fave King Solomon^ After the Un&ion follow- ed the Acclamation of the People. See v. 34. Ver. 40. And a!/ the People came up after hlm^\ From Verfe 40.- Gihon unto Jerufalevt. And the People piped withPipet, and rejoyced with great *joyl] To fee a King fetled by David's Appoint- ment . Which they hoped might prevent all Contefts about the Succeffion. . * CO MMENTARY ttpm Chapter & tk*t the Earth rent with the found of them.'] An I. Hyperbolical Exprellion, to fignify the very loud ,C/*W> Noife the People made with their Shouts and their Pipes. Which were Inftruments that had their Name among the Hebrews, from the many Holes that were in them : As the Illuftrious Spanhemivs obferves upon Cal/imach/ffhis Hymn ad Dianam^ v. 244. where he notes great Variety of them. Ver. 41. And, Adorn) ah And aU the Gttcfts that were with him heard if, <# they had made an end of eating.~] But, perhaps, were not yet rifen from the Table. See v. 49. And when Joab heard the found of the Trumpet, fa faid, Wherefore is this noifc of the City, being in an up- roar . mine Eyes even feeing it.] He gave fo- D lemn ,8 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter leran Thanks to God for the Happinefs of feeing S*~ I. kmon begin his Reign, with fuch ArTeftion of his C**v*^ People, as they expretfed by their Joy at his Inaugu- ration. Jonathan, it appears by this, had been a di- ligent Obferver of every thing that had been done in this Matter : For he omits nothing 5 but gives them a full and faithful Account. Verfe 49. Ver. 49. And all the Guefts that were with Adonjjah were afraid, and rofe p, and went every Man Ins way."] They rofe from Table where they were fitting, and departed every Man to his own home in great hafte : That it might not be known they had been with Ado- nijah. Who wanted thofe Marks of Royalty which were beftowed on Solomon : For he neither rode on the King's Mule 5 nor was he anointed $ nor fat on the Throne of the Kingdom : Nor do we read of any Forces that he had with him to maintain his Title. Yet Fortnnatw Scacchw thinks Adonjjah wanted none of the Marks of Royalty (infomuch that Bathfieba told David he reigned, v. 18.) but this one alone. Which Defed threw down all the Regal Majefty of Adonjjah^ fcattered all his Forces, and tranflated the Po/feflion of the Kingdom to Solomon^ as foon as he was confe- crated, by this Holy Un&ion, L.III. Myrothec. Cap. XLVILp. 571. Vcrfe $ 0. Ver.-5O. And ddonjj ah feared becaufe of Solomon^ and Arofe, and went, and caught hold of the Horns of the Attar."] He thought he had committed a Crime wor- thy of Death, by ufurpingtrie Kingdom without his Father's Confent 3 and againft the known Defign of God : And therefore he fled to the Altar for Safety and Protection. It being a Privilcdged Place $ not by the Appointment of the Law : But by the Cuftom of all Nations. It is aQueftion to what Altar he fled 5 whether to that at the Tabernacle in Gibeon; or. the Firjl Book, of KING S. or to that newly built in the Threfhing-floor of A- Chapter raunah the Jebufite. Some think to this Jaft, which I. was neareft 5 and it is exprefly faid of Joab in the *-^V^ next Chapter (v. 29.) that he fled to the Tabernacle of the LORD 5 which is not faid here. Ver. 51. And it was told Solomon faying, Behold Ado* Verfc f I, nijah f caret h King Solomon, for lo, he hath tak$n hold of the Horns of the Altar, faying^ let Solomon faear to me to day, that he will not flay hie Servant with the Srx>ord.~\ He offered to furrender himfelf, and make no Oppofition, if he might but be fecured of his Life . Which he humbly begged by taking Sanctuary at the Altar. Thefe words to. -day, fignify that he defired him from henceforth he would not puni(h him, for what was paft. Ver. 52. And Solomon faid.~^ He did not fwear un- Vcrfc 52. to him, as he defired, but only declared. If he will Jhew himfelf a worthy Man, there JhaU not an Hair of him fall to the Earth."] He gave him a full Pardon for what was paft ^ on condition he behaved himfelf as became a good Subject for the time to come. But if Wickednefs be found in- him, heflull *// and they brought him Verfc $2. down from the Altar 5 and he came, and bowtJ himfelf to King Solomon^} He owned him for his Soveraign. And Solomon faid unto him, go to thine Hottfe.'] There to lead a private Life y and not go abroad with fuch an Equipage as he had done, v. 5-. D a CHAP. ao A COMMENTARY upon Cba jf r CHAP. ir. Verfe I. Ver ^ c ''IVP^ the day t of David drew nigh that he L\ Jhottld dh7\ As he himfelf was fenfible. And he charged Solomon hit Son, faying.] After the Example ofAbr*&aw> the Father of the faithful, X VIIL Gen. 19. Vcrfe 2. Ver. * I & *he way of all the Earth.'] And fo was unable to govern any longer. Be thotiflrong therefore, andjhowthyfelfa Man.~\ Irr Wifdom and in Courage. Verfe . Ver. 5. And keep the Charge of the LORD thy God, to walk, in his Ways^ to keep his Statutes, and his Com* mandments, and his Judgments, and his Teftiwonzes."] Under thefe four words are comprehended all the Laws of Mofes : Statutes, being fuch Conftitutions as had not their Foundation in reafon, but in the Will and Pleafure of God . As not to fow two Seeds of different kinds together, &c. f See >>-#/&// and Gr> titts upon XIX. Numb. 2* and Mafivs upon XXIV. Jo- final 1 }*,) GotntMuidmnts, were Moral Duties, which had a manifeft Reafon, as not to fteal, &c. Judgments were the Laws belonging to Civil Government, in things between one Man and another . Such as are mentioned XXI. Exod. and the following Chapters. And Teftintonies were fuch Laws, as preferved the Re- membrance of fome great things : And teftificd to Ihem the Loving Kindnefs of the LORD ; as the Sab- bath, the Paflbver, and all the reft oftheFeafts. As it is'written in the Law of Mofes \] Which their Kings were bound not only to read, but to write a Copy the Fir ft Boo^ of K I N G S. 3 * Copy of it with their own hands, for their own ufe .'Chapter That they might learn to fear the LORD, &c. XVII. u. Deut. 1 8, 19. CXW That than mayeft profper in all that thott doft, and whitherfoever thott turnejl thyfelf.~] Or, that thou may eft do wifely , &c. as it is in the Margin. For there is no Policy, like true Religion and Piety. Ver. 4. That the LORD may confirm hi? Word which Verfe 4. hefpake concerning me, faying y if thy Children ta^e heed to their Ways^ to walk before me in Truth, -with all their Heart, and with all their Soul j there fiall not fail thee (faid he) a Man upon the Throne oflfrael."] To engage him to keep the Charge of the LORD he reprefents unto him, the gracious Promife which. God had made him, to perpetuate the Kingdom in his Family with- out Interruption (x f**.VH.i$,i6. CXXXII. Pfafat, I2.J provided his Children fincerely and heartily ferved God, in faithful Obedience to his Cornr mauds. Ver. 5. Moreover y thou knoweft alfo what Joab f^ Son of Zenith did unto me7\ After he had given him. this general Charge, he proceeded to direft him to do fome particular pieces of Juftice^ and Kindnefs. And firft of all bids him remember, how Joab had ufed him : How infolendy, for inftance he had trea- ted him in his great AffiicVion, and threatned a new Rebellion (2 Sam. XIX. 7.) and lately had fet up A- donijah foreign, while he was yet alive. Or this may refer to what follows. And what he did to the two Captains of the Hofts of Ifrael, untoAbner the Son of Ner, AmafatheSonofJe- ther, whom he flew."] For this was a great Di (honour to David, who had given Abnerhk Conduct 5 and pa(fed his word to Amafa, that he mould be Comman- 4ier in chief of all his Forces : And therefore he might fay. A COMMENTARY upon Chapter fay it vea* done tohitttfelf. But it is an idle Conceit of II. the Jews in Jalktt^ and in other Books: Which refer thefe words what he did to me> unto his (bowing the Letter which David wrote him concerning Vriah, unto the great Commanders in the Army (2 Sam. XI. 15.) and thereby expofed the King as a Murderer of one of his beft Subje&s. D. J^imchi mentions this upon this Place. And /bed the Blood of War in Peace $ and put the B!M of War upon his Girdle that was about his Loyns, and in his Shoes that were on his Feet.'] This was an high Aggravation of his Crime, that he not only died that Blood in Peace (Tpeaking to them in a friendly manner when he fhed it) but after he had done he was not 'at all athamed of it, but appeared with their Blood upon his Belt, and in his Shoes.- As if he thought it a Glory to him, and he had flain them in a Battle with them. 6. Ver. 6. Do thott therefore according to thj Wifdom, dnd let not his hoar Head go down to the Grave in Peace."] It was not fafeto give any Countenance to To bold a Man as Joab, who was of great Authority among the Soldiers : In a new Kingdom, and a young Man be- ing King. Therefore if there was a fair occafion, and he could do it prudently, he advifes Solomon to cut him off. For David had not remitted his former Crimes, ("nor could he by the Law_) but only de- ferred the Punimment of a Man, who was very pow- erful, and very ferviceable in his Wars. Though A- barbjntl is of Opinion, he was not cut off for thofe old Crimes: But the new one in following Adonijah woiild not be forgiven 5 becaufe he had deferved To ill before on other accounts. But fome move a Doubt, how Solomon being but a Youth could cut qff Joab 5 which David durft not do, when he moft flourifhed. Which the Fir ft Book, of KINGS. Q 3 Which will eafily be refolved, if it be confidered that Chapter now it was a time of Peace, when Joab was lefs ne- II. ceflary : And Solomons Reputation grew continually \-, is that he was in his Pow- er, being one of his Subje&s. Which curfed me with a grievous Cttrje, in the day when ImnttoM 2 Sum. XIX. 18, 19, &c. Verfe 9. Ver. 9. AW therefore hold him not guiltlej} : ^For thou art a, wife Man, and knowefl what thou oughteft to do unto him $ but htf hoar Head bring down unto the Grave with Blood.'] His Intention was not, as Abarbi- nel glofles, that he (hould put him to Death for his curfing him : But he admonifties Solomon not to truft him, nor follow his Advice, but if ( faith he) he do to thee, as he did to me, that is any ways offend thee 5 do not forgive him as I did. But bring down hit hoar Head, 8cc. that is, though he be an old Man, let not that move thee to Clemency towards him : But punifh him according to his Deferts. And David knew his Humour fo well, that he did not doubt he would give Solomon occafion to cut him off, and that he was fo wife as not to fpare him. In (hort, he did not bid him cut him off for curfing him $ but only that he (hould cautioufly obferve him : And if he committed any new Offence worthy of Death, not pardon him as he had done. Vcffe IO. ^ er - IO * $ D<*vid flettt with 'hjf Fathers, and was buried in the City of David."] The Author before- men- tioned is a little too conceited in his Interpretation of the firft part of thefe words : Which he will have to fignify not that David died (which is the common Import of this Phrafe) but that his Soul refted in the other World, with thole juft and good Men that had been before him. But he obferves well enough ihat the latter part of this Verfe informs us he was not bu- ried in the Sepulchre of his Father (as Saul was, 2 Sam. XXI. 12, V.) for that was in Bethlehem? But, he being a great Ring, was buried in the chief City of the Kingdom, which he himfelf had found- ed, the Firji Boo\ of KINGS. 25 ed, and where was the Throne of the Houfe of Da- Chaprcr wd, CXXII. Pfal. 5. He tells alfoout of Jofepfa his II. Antiquities ("See Lib. VII. Cap. XII.) that there was L/^^NJ a great Vault over his Sepulchre, in which was hid an Immenfe Treafure: Unto which no Body knew the way, but thofe that underftood the Artifice where- with it was built. Out of this Vault they took in rhe time of Antiochitt) fo much Money as made him with- draw his Army from them. Which Procopius Gaztw alfo mentions. And Herod took out of it a great ma- ny Talents for the building of the Temple: But in following Times there was no Man to be found to whom the Secret was communicated, how to open it ^ fo that no more Money was taken out from that time. What Credit is to be given to this, I (hall not deter- mine, but fufpedt its Truth. Ver. ii. And the days that David reigned over If- Verfe n. rael were forty Tears : feven Tears reigned he in He- brott^ and thirty three Tears reigned he in Jerufalem.~] The very fame account is given in the i Chron. XXIX, 27. But in the 2 Sam. V. 5. it isfaid he reigned feven Years and fix Months in Hebron (and the fame is faid before Chapter Second^ v. n.) which with the three and thirty Years in Jerufalem make forty Years and an half. To folve this Difficulty (as fome of the Jews efteem it) they have devifed this Conceit .' That DA- vid had a Leprofy fix Months, to punifh him for his Adultery with Bathfieba : All which time he being as a dead Man, it is not accounted to his Reign. But they did not confider that the Six Months was part of his Reign in Hebron ; before he committed that Adultery in Jerttfalevt. Which (hows that this is a fri- volous Fancy } and the true account of this Matter is, that the Scripture is wont to reckon only compleat Years fas Kimchi obferves upon that place ofS**t*et) E and i6 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter and therefore omits the fix Months, being but a part II. of aYeir. See VI. 38. -xvv^ Ver. 12. Then fat Solomon upon the Throne of David Verfc 1 2 .fa Father, and his Kingdom was eftablifoed greatly."] This Abarbinel thinks may refer to the fecond folemn Inveftiture of Solomon by ali the Eftates of the Realm: Who confirmed that which had been done by a few (though by Davids Order ) at Gihon r i Chron. XXIX. 22, 23. Verfe 12. Ver. 13. And Adonijah the SonofHaggithcame to Bath[hebathe Mother of Solomon : And fie faid com eft thou peaceably ? and he faid peaceably."] She had fome reafon to diftruft him : Becaufe by her means he had loft the Kingdom; Verfe 14. Ver. i^ He faid moreover, I have fomething to fay unto thee : And foe faid fay on.~] He did not pretend to come to make her a Vifit : But about fome Bufi- nefs. Verfe 15* ^ eFi '5- dn& he faid, thon knoweft that the King" domwas mine.~\ By right of Primogeniture. And that all Ifraelfet their Faces on me^ that I fljottld reign."] The Kingdom, he pretends, was hi$ by the Inclination of the Generality of th People to him, as David's Succeflbr. Hovbeit the Kingdom is turned about, and Become my.Brothers:foritwashisfromthe LQRD.~] Left (he foould imagine he meant any harm, or was inwardly difgufted at his being difappointed of the Kingdom, he calls Solomon his Brother $ and intitles God ro the Change : And therefore would not have her think he affected another Change $ which would be. to oppofe the LORD. ^ Ver. 16. And nowlast^one Petition of thee t dtny me not: andfl)tfaid t fay on.] In the Hebrew the words are* turn not away, my Face .-.. Which :fignify, that he^ (hould, tie Firfi BooJ^ BRINGS. (hould be very much afhamed, if (he did not grant Chapter his Petition. II. Ver. 17. And he faid^ fyeak I pray thee to Solomon **'******' the King (for he will not fay thee nay} that he give me Verfe *7 W Abifhag the Shunamite to Wife."] Both he and (he furely were not ignorant, that it was unlawful for any Man to marry his Father's Wife : But they thought, becaufe David knew her not, the Marriage was not com- pleated. Ver. 1 8. And Bathfljeba. faid, well ^ I willfyeak^ for Verfe 1 8. thee to the King.'] For (he did not underftand the Drift of this Delire . But was only forward to do Courtefies to a Man, fallen from very great Hopes. Ver. 1 9. Bathfieba therefore went unto King Solomon, Verfe 1 9* ta.fpeak. unto him for Adonijah : And the King rofe up to meet her^ and lowed himfelfnnto her.'] For the high Honour to which he was advanced, did not make him forget the Honour due to a Parent : Unto whom he was alfb much indebted for his Preferment to the Kingdom. And fat down in his Throne^ and caufed a Seat to be fet for the Kings Mother."] In the Hebrew it is, a Throne to be fet for her : It being a Seat in the Form of a Throne, though not fo glorious as the King's. Andjhefat on hit right hand."] Which was the moft honourable Place, next to himfelf, XLV. Pfalm 9. CX. i. Ver. 10. Thenjhefaid, I defire one fa all Petition of Verfe ib, thee 5 I pray thee fay me not nay.'] It is likely it was the firft Petition (he had made to him$ and, as (he thought, would coft him nothing : Which made her call it, afmaU Petition. And the King faid, ask. ott my Mother : For IwiU not fay thee najT] If the thing were fit, and fafe to be granted. E i Ver. 21. a8 A COMMENTARY Hpon Chapter Ver. 2 i . And foe faid y let Abijhag the Shunamite be II. given to Adonijab thy Brother to Wife. L/"VSJ Ver. 22. And King Solomon anfwered^ andfaid MI- Verfe 2 1 . to hts Mother } and why doft thott ask Abiftag the Shnna- Verfe 22. mite for Adonijah? ask. for him the Kingdom alfo .?] He gently reprehends her Ignorance : For it is, as if he had faid, do you call this a fmall Petition ? You had as good ask the Kingdom for him. (For he if my elder Brother) And hath that Pretence to the Kingdom : Unto which he would add this. Even for him, and for Abiathar the Prieft, and for Joabthe Son of ZerHiah."] Who were all in this Plot. So the Hebrew words, in the Opinion ofLud. de Dieu^ are better rendred by the Chaldee Paraphraft, than by any other Interpreter. Was not he^ and Abiathar^ and Joab in thff Counfel ? The LXX. more plainly, with him are Abiathar the Prieft, and Joab the chief Comman- der of the Army: That is, they are his Complices, and have laid their Heads together to give him this Counfel. Verfe 22 ^ er * 2 3* ^ n ^ ^* n & Solomonfvpare by the LORD fay- '* ing, God do fo to me and more alfo, if Adonijah have notfyoken thjt word.] Made this Requeft, which he knew came originally from him. Againft his own Life.~] For he lookt upon it as a treafonable Defign, to ask David's Wife might become his. For according to the Cuftom of the Hebrews, no Man who had been the Servant of the King, might ferve any other Matter 5 nor might any Man ride upon the King's Horfe $ nor fit on his Throne, nor ufe his Scepter : As they fay in the Title Sanhedrin^ Cap. 2. Seel. 2, 5. Much lefs might any private Per- fon marry the King's Widow : Who belonged only to his Succeffor. Therefore God gave David all the Wives of Saul) 2 Sam. XII. 8. All which the Gemara, upon the Firft Boo^of K IN GS upon that place (Cap. 2. Se&. 14.) applies unto this Chapter Hiftory of Adonijah : Whofe defire to marry the King's II. Widow (which was not lawful for any private Per- C/'V^J fon) was lookt upon as an affe&ing the Kingdom. So Cocceitff glofles upon that place. And indeed Adoni- jah feems to have anderftood well enough, that Abi- /bag was wholly in the Power of Solomon; and did not return to her Father's Houfe, after the Death of David : But remained with him in his Poffeffion, as oneofthofe things that were appropriated to him. Which moved Adonijah fas Abarbinei obferves) fx> defire her of Solomon; and notaddrefs himfelf to her, or to her Relations; but to him, becaufe (he belong- ed to the Crown. See Selden Lib. I. de TJxor. Heir. Cap. X. Ver. 24. Now therefore of the LORD liveth, which Verfe 24. hath eftablifoed me in the Throne of nty Father, and hath made me an Houfe.'] That is, a Royal Family. As hepromifed^] In the 2 Sam. VII. 12, 13. AdonijahJhaU be put to death this DayJ] He repeats the Oath to fignify it was his unalterable Refolution he (hould not live $ but be put to death, without delay . Which in fuch cafes is very dangerous. Ver. 25. And King Solomon fent by the hand of Be- y er f c 2 * naiah the Son of Jehoiada : And he fell upon him, that he died,'] For fuch Executions were there done not by mean Perfons, but by Men of Eminence : Who at the King's Command cut off Offenders. See VIII. Judges 20. Ver. 16. And unto Abiathar the Priefl the Kingfaid, Verfe 26. Get thee to Anathoth thine own Field.~] This was a City of the Priefts (XXI. Jojb. 28.) Where he commanded him to lead a private Life : Either in that part of the Suburbs, which fell to his (hare 5 or in fome Land which , 3 o A COMMENTARY up Chapter which he had purchafed, as Jeremiah afterwards did, II. XXXII. Jcrem. 6, 7, 8. For thon art worthy of Death : But At this time I will .not put thee to Death.~] He feems now only to reprieve him ^ that he might keep him upon his good Beha- viour . For if hereafter he gave juft Caufe, he might put him to Death, as well as now put him out of his Office. Becaufe thott bareft the Ark of the LORD God before David ttty Father.'] He was faithful to him in the Re- bellion of Abfalom: When he brought the Ark from Jerufalem to accompany him, iSant. XV. 24, 29. And becattfe thou haft been afflifled in all^ wherein my father was rf^/tfe*/.] Underwent all the Hardfhips that David indured, alj the time of his Exile under 6W, I Sam. XXII. 20, 21, c. Vcrfe 27. Ver. 27. So Solomon thrttft out Abiatharfrom being Prieft unto the LORD, that he might fulfil the Word of the LORD, nJjich hefpake concerning the HoufeofEli^ irtShiloh.'] Which might partly move, Solomon to de- prive him. See i Sam. II. 31, &c. Verfe 28. Ver.xS. Theft Tidings came to Joab.] That Adonijah was put to Death 5 and Abiathar banimed. (For Joab had turned after Adonijah^ though he had not turned after Abfalom.) The reafon of which, A- larbinel thinks, was, becaufe Solomon was very young, and not fit, he thought, to manage publick Affairs : And his Mother alfo had a Blot upon her. And Joab fled unto the Tabernacle of the LO R D.~] Which was at Gibeon. See the foregoing Chapter, v. 51. This makes it appear that Joab had a hand in the Counfel before-mentioned, v. 22. as Solomon fuf- pefted. the Firfi Bo9\ of K I N GS. ?r And caught hold on the Horns of the Altar.] Which Chapter were four, at each Corner thereof.- In Heigtb, as the II. Jeaufay, five Hand-breadths $ that is a common Cu- bit. Here he thought to fave himfelf, according to the Cuftom of all Nations, who fled to their Altars, when they were guilty of any great Crime, and were in great Danger. But the Jewifh Do&ors fay, Joab was miftaken in two things. Firft, in fancying there was Security from thence for a wilful Murderer : And Secondly, in that he looked for Safety by taking- hold of the Horns of the Altar, whereas the Refuge of the Altar (as Kimchi faith) was on the Top of it only. But I look upon this as frivolous 5 Ra/i his Opinion, is better .- That as God appointed them Cities of Re- fuge whether the Man-flayer fhould flee, when they came into the Land of Canaan, XXI. ExoJ. 13; So while they were in the Wildernefs the Camp of the Levttes ferved for that purpofe- And the following words, v. 14. declaring that if a Man committed a pre- fumptuous Murder, he {hould be taken from the Al- tar and put to Death : It not only confirms what he {aith, but intimates, that even in the Land of Canaan the Altar continued a Refuge for thofe that fled to jt* But then this Queftion artfes, Why Joab (who as the Jews fancy was Prefident of the great Sanhedrin, and, underftood the Law) (hould think to find Shelter here, being a wilful Murderer. To which the Jews anfwer that he hoped hereby to fave his Eftate, which other* ways would have been forfeited. So they fay in the Gsntara. Sanhedrin, Cap. VI. N. 7. He hoped to be con- demned by the Judgment of the SWWr/, and then, his Goods would goto his Heirs .- Whereas if he was cut off by the King, they would fall to him. See, Cacceittf there Annot. 2. Others fay, he hoped to ob- tain Burial by this means .. But I take thefe to be mere: Conceits*. % COM ME N TA R T upon Chapter Conceits. It is more probable, that as Dr. Lightfoot II. conje&ures, he hoped to obtain a Pardon, asAbra- \*S*V?\J thar had done, by confecrating himfelf to God and to his Service : As he did, he thinks, by this folemn Ceremony* For the laying hold of the Altar had a Vow in it for the future, as well as the hope of pre- fent Safety. Which may be argued from the Nature of the Altar : Which made that which touched it to be holy. Sec his Treatife of the Temple, Chap. XXXIV. Sett. 3. Verfe 1Q. ^er. 1 9- And it was told King Solomon that Joab was fed unto the Tabernacle of the LORD, and behold he if by the Altar. Then Solomon fent Renaiah the Son of Jc- hoiada, fying, go fall upon hlm7\ Which Punifhment, as Abarbinel obferves, was not infiided on him, for killing Alner and Amafa : Though the Remembrance of that innocent Blood which he (hed moved him not to pardon the Faults he had newly committed : Firft, in fettingup Adorijah to be King while his Fa- ther was living, which was no better than Rebellion $ being done without David's Order: And Secondly, in this new Attempt to pretend to the Kingdom, by advifing to beg Abifhag for his Wife. Solomon did not punifh him for the former, becaufe he had par- doned Adonijah: And therefore would not be fevere againft his Adherents. But he renewing his Traite- rous Defigns, he thought fit to cut them both off.- And Joab thought he deferved no lefs, as appears by his flying to the Altar. Which was an Acknowledg- ment that he was guilty of that Crime which Solomon charged upon him 5 in being one of the wicked Counfellers of Adonijah : And therefore deferved to die. Thus he fc r Ver. 30. the Firft Bool^ of K I N G S. 33 Ver. 30. And Benaiah came to the Tabernacle of the Chapter LORD, and faid, thus faith the King, come forth.'] II. The fore-named Author thinks that Benaiah had a mind to bring him to Solomon : And try to get his Pardon } fo far as to have him only depofed from his Office, as Abiathar was. And he faid nay y but I will die here."} Which he faid, that he might bring Solomon into the Peoples Hatred, for framing the Houfe of God with Blood. And Ben at ah brought the King word faying, thus f aid Joab, and thus he anfwered me^] This Interpreters ge- nerally take to be but the Repetition of the fame thing,, in different words.- But Abarbinel takes them for two diftinft Anfwers of Joab $ in which he refufes to come from the Place where he was 5 and pronounces the Sentence upon himfelf, and defires no Pardon. For thofe Words, thus faith Joab> refpeft (he thinks) the Sentence which he pronounced on himfelf, that he M ould die : And thofe words, tints he anfwered^ fignify he would not come from the Altar. Ver. 3 1 . And Solomon faid to Benaiah^ do as he hath Verfe 2 1 aid^ and fall upon him, and bury him.~] Kill him at the very Altar, where herefolves to die: After which he would not deny him Burial futable to his Quality, v. 34. But many think, he did not kill him at the very Altar } but dragged him from thence, and then flew him. For what need was there to defile the Holy Place, with Blood > And fo the Command is XXI. Exod.i^. Though others are of Opinion, that Solomon did think fit to have him killed at the very Altar ; to let all Men fee that no Place, though ever fo Holy, (hould fecure any Man from the hand of Juftice. That thou wtayeft take away the innocent Blood which Joab fied.~] He means the Blood of thofe two Perfons mentioned in the next Verfe : Whofe Murdtr fas I F faid 34 A COMMENTARY nfon Chapter faid before) was not the immediate Reafon of Joalfs II. Death 5 but the Words of Solomon are to be under- t^VSJ flood (Abarbinel thinks) as if be had faid to Benaiah. Do not imagine thou (halt offend God, by killing Joab at the very Altar, but rather perform an accepta- ble Service to him : By cutting off a Man who deferves to die, not only upon the Account of Adonijah 5 but of the innocent Blood which he med heretofore. So the Bufinefs of Adonijah was the principal Caufe of his Death.- The other only the Secondary 5 which he re- members that he might warrant Benaiah to kill him in the Tabernacle. Frant we and from the Houfe of my Father."] The Crimes of Joab in killing thofe two Men, could not be punifoed by the Houfe of Judgment, becaufe there were no Witnefles of that Mqrder . But David might have done it by fuch Proofs as Cuisfied him of his Guilt. Yet he omitted it, becaufe Joab was fo po- tent in the Army: And fo Solomon feared the Guilt might ftick upon his Family, if it were not wiped off by this Execution upon Joab. Verfe 32. Ver. 32. And the LORD fkall return hw Blotdupon his wn HeadJ] Make him alone bear the Puniftmient of his Iniquity. Who feU upon two Men more righteous and better thsttt he $ and flew them with the Sword^ my Father not know- ing thereof ':. io-mt Abner the Son ofNer Captain of the Hoft-oflfraet, and Amafa the Son of J ether, Captain of the Hofl ofjudah.'] His Crime was the more heinous, becaufe it brought a Sufpicion upon David, as if it had been done by his Order : Which Calumny he la- boured to wipe off, by the unfeigned Grief he ex- preffed for Abner, 2 Sam. III. 37. Varfe 33. Ver. 33. Their Blood therefore fhatt return upon the Head of Joab) and upon the Head of his Seed for ever.] Why, tie Firfl Eoo\ of K I N G S. 35 Why doth he repeat what he faid before > Abarbinel Chapter anfwers, it is not a mere Repetition 5 bat Solomon II. pronounces that the Curfe of David {hould come up- U^VNJ on him : So that Joab's own Death (hould not expi- ate the Guilt ^ but his Pofterity (hould fuffer for it in future Generations, according to what Davidrtiid, 2 SAM. III. 28,29. Btft upon David, and upon his Seed, and u$on his Hoitfe, and upon his Throne^ flail be Peace for ever be- fore tlx LO R D.~] He prays and prophecies that his Family and Kingdom might never furfer upon this ac- count .-NOW that the Sin which had not been pn- nifhed in David's Life- time, had received a juft Pu- nimment from him. Ver. 34. So Bertaiah the Son of Jjehoiadf went tip ; Verfe ^4 and fell npon him^ and flew him.~] He is faid to go up t becaufe Gibcon where Joab was at the Tabernacle, was an high Place. And he was buried^] It is not faid who took care of his Burial 5 but it is likely Benaiah (See ^.31.) becaufe Joab was a Man of Dignity ^ and one of the Royal Family. In hif own* Hofffe in the Wildemefs^] He did not bu- ry him in the Houfe, but in fome Ground belonging to it, and accounted a part of the Habitation: Which was in the Wildernefs. So they called thofe parts of the Country which were but thinly inhabited. And Abarbinelis of Opinion, that here Joab had built an Hofpital, where he provided in feveral Rooms, a Bed, a Table, and a Candlefiick for poor Tra- vellers. Ver. 3 5. And the King put Benaiah the Son ofje* Vcrfe 35 koiada in his room over the Hoft^ and Zadok.the Prieft did he put in the room of Abiathar.'] It is evident that Z*dok> was a great Min before this 5 at leaft the Vicar Fa of A COMME NTARY upon Chapter of the High Prieft Abiathar. Who was, as fome of II. the Jews fancy, deprived by David himfelf, or fuf- v-/ p v^-' pended from his Office, upon his anointing Adoni- jah. But no fuch anointing is mentioned in the Story otAdovijah: Nay, it is moft likely (as I before obfe.r- ved) that he wanted it : And therefore he remained High Prieft till now that Solomon removed him , and tranflated that great Office from the Family of Ithamar to that of Eleazar (according to the threatning again ft //, i Sum. II. 30.) in which it continued till the time of the Captivity 5 no notice being taken of Jo- nathan the Son of Abiathar mentioned in the foregoing Chapter, v. 42. and in I Sam. XV. 27. See Selden de Succeffion. in Pontif. Lib. l.Cap. IV, V. and Groliu* de Imperio Sum. Poteflat : Where he obferves (Cap.X.) that the Sagan or Vicar of the High Prieft, had rather a Hope^ than a Right to fucceed in the Office of High Prieft. For Malmonides faith the Sanhedrin chofc him out of the Family of Aaron ; but here it is plain the Ring difpofed of that Office : For otherwife it could not be faid truly 5 that Solomon pat Zadok in the room of Abiathar } by the fame Authority that he put Bwaiah in the room oljoab. Bel/ ar win indeed, for fear Rings fhould be thought fuperior to the High- Prieft, faith, Solomon did this not as a Ring but as a Prophet, L. 2. de Pontifco. Cap. 29. But Solomon was. not yer a Prophet ^ and all they who had Royal Au- thority in the time of the Macedonians, and Rom^.n^ apd the Pofterity of Herad challenged to themfelves this Power of making an High Prieft: Though they left to the Jews an advavofjuLx (the Government of th,emfeffves by their, own Laws) in other things. VerCe %6. ^ er ' B^' And the Kingjent and called far Shi mci, attdfaid unto him 5 build thee an Honfe in Jerufalem and dwi/t there ' wd. go. not. forth tkewe any whither, ~] It was ; the Firft Book, of -KINGS. 37 was fit to confine fuch a turbulent Man as ShiMeiwas ^Chapter and not fuflfer him to go about whither he pleafed, II. throughout the Tribes of Ifrad^ where he might ftir v>^/"*^ up Sedition. But it was very kind to confine him to fuch a pleafant Place as Jpr*fale*t, and the Suburbs of it: Which made Abarbiael renew his Conceit (from thofe words of David, than haft with thee Shimei*) that Solomon had a great Love to him, and made him hts Familiar. But it is more reafonable to think that So- lomon fufpeded his Fidelity , and therefore would have him always in his Eye, in the Koyal City. Ver. 37. For it {hall be^ that in the day thott goeft Verfe 37* out, and paffejl over the Brook^lddron y thottflxilt know for certain, that thou foalt furely dfe.~] He mentions the Brook Kidron, becaufe that was in the way to Baha- rim; where Shiwei dwelt: As appears by comparing, 2 Sam. XV. 23. with XVI. 5. But Solomons Intention was, that if he went out of Jerufalem any way, to a greater Di (Vance than Kidron was from thence, h e ^ (hould die for it. For when he went toGath afte his Servants, he went directly the quite contrary way r That City lying Weftward of Jentfalew, as Kidron* did Eaftward. Thy Blood fl)aH be on thine own Head,~\ He (bouln l t>e- guilty and no Body elfe of his Dearti : For it was-in^ his Power to preferve his Life. Ver. 38. And Shiwei faid unto the King, the fay'mgy r ^o it good.~] He confelFes the King's Klndneis in this In- junction ^ and that he was beholden to him,, for lay- ing no greater Burden upon htm. As my Lord the King hath faid, fir will- thy fervant <&.] Which he confirmed by an Oach, v. 42,43. And.Shimei dwelt in Jeritfalem many day s~\ . Three / Years v as it follows in the next ..Verlc..- 3 8 A C M M E N T A R T *pon Chapter Ver. 39. And it came to pafs at the end of three Years, ji. that two ofSbiweisfervants ran away unto Ac hi ft) the XV'Nj Son of Maacah King of Gaths and they told tihiffiei, Verfe 39 -faying, beheld thy firvants be in Gath.~] Achijh had been io great a Friend to David, that though David had conquered the Philiftines, yet he fuffered Achifo ftill to retain the Title ot King, and io be only a Tribu- tary to him : So that there was a Friendly Correfpon- dence between his City and Jerttfalem ; where Shimei might eafily hear, by fome-body or other, who had been at Goth, that his Servants were there. Verfe 40. ^ er> 4* ^"^ Shtmei arofe, andfadled his Afs, and went to Gath, to Achifl) to fee \ hts fervants.~] In three Years time he thought Solomon might have forgotten his Injun&ion } or he prefumed he would not hold him ftri&ly to it.- Efpecially fince he did not go from ^erufalem for his Pleafure, but to recover what he had loft ^ which he thought was pardonable. For thefe Servants, its likely, were worth a great deal of Mo- ney : Wherewith he had purchafed them. And Sbimei went and brought hisfervants from GathJ\ Where Achiflj would not protect them^ being in Friend (hip with the Jfraelites. Verfe 41. Ver. 41. And it was told Solomon that Shimet had gone from Jerufaler/t to Gath, and was come again."} If Solomon had not conftant Spies about Shimei, to watch his Motions : Yet fuch a journey as this could not well be undertaken fo fecretly 5 but fome or other would obferve it, and inform againft him. V-erfe 42 . ^ er> 4 1 - And the Kingfent and called for Shintei, and faid unto him, did I not make thee fwear by the LOjRD, and protefted unto thee, faying^ Know for certain^ that on the day thon goeft out, and walkeft abroad any whi- ther, thou {halt Jurely die ? and thon faidft unto me the word that I have heard is good.~] He repeats their Agree- ment ; the F*rft Bool^of KINGS. ment 5 and only adds that he made Shimei folemnly Chapter fwear that he would ftand to it, and did thankfully II. accept it. C^VXJ Ver. 43. Why then haft thou not kept the Oath of the Verfe 43. LORD, and the Commandment that 1 have charged thee with .o\ of KINGS. return from thdr Captivity from Bahylon^ (as L .- Chapter pereur obierves out of the Gemara) the <ar was Iff. made larger $ becaufe the Fire burnt more flowly, L/VNJ when they wanted that Heavenly Flame, which was ftrong and powerful. Annot. in Cod. Mr4deJb.C&p.l. St&. I. p. 103. Ver. 5. In Gibeon Qed appeared to Solomon in dVerfe j, Dream by NightJ] Perhaps he thought he (aw the Divine Glory ftiine round about him : Or elfe the meaning is God revealed himfelf in a Dream, as the Tar gum here exprefles it, the LORD was revealed to -Solomon by Night. When Men have often feen that reprefented to them, which they found true when they were awake. AsT^ty (hows by many Inftances 5 efpecially out ofArijiotleS Famous Story, of the two Men that travelled together to Megara : One of which being killed in his Inn, the other, who lay in a Friend's Houfe, had all the Facl: reprefented clearly and diftinftly to him, in his Dream, as if he had feen it done } fo that he found out the Murderers in the Mornins;. See Lib. I. de Divination* ^ Cap. XXIV, XXV, XXVI, &c. And Godfaid, Ask what Ifiall give thee.~] He heard a Voice fpeaking to him $ and bidding him ask what he defired, and it (hould be beftowed upon him. This Voice he took to be from God fas appears by his Anfwer) who herein (howed himfelf very gra- cious to Solomon^ and alfo made a Trial of his In- clinations. Ver. 6. And Solomon faid, thott haft flown unto Da- Verfe 6* vid my Father great Mercy , according as he walked be- fore thee, in Truth and Righteoufnefs, and in Upright- nefs of Heart with thee : And thou haft kept for him this great Kindnefs, that thou haft given him a Son to /it up- on hit Throne^ ai at this day.~\ Thankful Acknowledg- G 2 ments 44 A COMMENTARY npon Chapter ments of Mercies already received (as St. Chryfoflome III. notes) invite new Bleffings to be beftowed upon us. ******** Vprightnefs of Heart, here afcribed to David doth not fignifie that he was without Fault (for the contrary is evident that he was guilty of great Tranfgreffions againft the Moral Law) but it is fpoken in Oppofi- tion to Saul, who was rejected for controuling the Orders of God. Verfc 7. Vcr. 7. And HOW, LORD my God, thou haft made thyfervant King, inftead of David my Father^ and I am but a little Child : I know not how to go out, or how to come in.~\ There are thofe, particularly Rap $ who think he was but Twelve Years old, when he fpake thefe word 55 and therefore calls himfelf Naar a Child. But Abarbinel hath (hown that they ground this upon an uncertain Computation : And that if he was but a Child of XII. Years old now, he muft have begun to reign, when he was but Seven, or Eight Years old : For he had fat fome time upon the Throne, as appears by the foregoing Story, when he had this Dream. And his Father calls him a. wife Man when he left the Throne to him, Chap. II. 6, 9. And from many other ftrong Arguments he concludes him to have been at leaft Twenty Years old, when he began to reign : And therefore calls himfelf here a Child, with refpeft only to his Skill in managing publick Affairs 5 as is fignified in the laft words, I know not how to go out, &c. i. e. to govern fo great fr People for want of Experience. Thus Benjamin is called a Child, XLVI. Gen. 20. and Mofes calls Jofhtta by the fame Name (XXXII. Exod. 10.) though they were above thirty Years old. And the Sons of Eli when they mi- ftred as Priefts, i Sam. 2. 17. Yerfe 8. Ver. 8. And thyfervant is in the midft of thy People, which thou haft chofen $ a great People^ that cannot be nttmbred At Fir ft Boo\ of K I N G S. 45 numbred or counted for Multitude.'] And confequently Chapter great Abilities were required to do exact Juftice to III. them all. xx-v*^-< Ver. 9. Give therefore thy fervant an underftanding Verfe a. Hearty to judge thy People 5 that I may difcern between good and bad.'] For who is able to judge fo great a People? That is, without the Divine Guidance and Affiftance,he thought it impoflible to understand what was Law in all Cafes .- So as dextroufly to difpatch Bufinefs, and decide all Differences. For young Men as Ariflotle obfcrves, are unfit for Government 5 be- caufe in them, TB fixteuTittw a^Afe, their confultive Power is very imperfeft 3 as he fpeaks in the firft Book of his Politicks, Cap. VH. And therefore in his Book ad Nichomachum^ he will not fo much as admit a young Man to the Lectures of Politicks 3 TH? ^reAi- mfo w &Jw ax^atr>^ oo$ o vtfc. But this is not univerfally true, as we fee not only in the Example of Solomon, who was extraordinarily accompliftied by God in his Youth for the greateft things: But by f ome Examples among the Heathen, of young Men who managed the weightieft Affairs, with as much Prudence, as they who were of the greateft Expe- rience. Witnefs Sctyio, unAOttavianvsAttgHftuf. But fuch Perfons were rarely found: So that0/0w*him- felf faith, Wo to the Land whofe King is a Child, X. Ecclef. i6> Ver. 10. And the Speech pie afed the LORD, that So- Verfe io Utmon had asked this thing^] For it was a Token of a vertuous Mind, and a publick, Spirit ; That defired above all things the Honour of God, and the good of his People. Ver. n. And God faid unto him^ becaufe thou haft Verfe it; a&ked this thing, and haft not asked for thy felf long Life, neither haft a tkgd Riches for thy felf, nor haft asked the 46 A C M M E N I A R T nfon Chapter the Life of thine Enemies."] Which are things, of which III. Men are naturally moft defirons. WVNJ But haft oi^ed for thy feif Underftandirtg to difiern Judgment."] As far tranicending long Life, Wealth, and Victory over Enemies. Verfe 12. Ver. 12. Be hold, I have done according tv thy ords : Lo, I have given thec a wife and underftanding Heart ^ fo that there was none like thee before thee^ neither after thee fiall any arife like unto tee.~] For other wife Men .gather their Knowledge by Study, and Obiervation, and other Helps (as Abarbincl here notes) but Solomon had his by Tnipirarion . So that he went to Bed an ig- norant Man, but awaked in the Morning like an An- gel of God. At once, as his words are, he who was like other Men, was made like the SonofGod. For he had not only the Skill of Government imparted to him j but a general Knowledge of all other things, as the following Hiftory tells us. Whence he fancies he calls himfelf Agur^ XXX. Prov. i. becaufe in him there was a Colkftion of all manner of Wifdom and Knowledge, and this imparted from-God. Which is thereafon, he imagines, why he doth not call him- felf Oger, which is an aftive Word, bur Agm> which is. a Paffive: Becaufe he did not gather all his Wif- dom himfelf, but it was given him from the hand of Cod. Verfe I2. Ver. 13. And I have alfo given thee that which than haft rtot Jtsked^ both Riches and Honour."] Thefe are abfolutejy prcmifed him : But here is no mention of long Life $ for that depended upon the Condition of hb ftedfaft Obedience to God, as it follows in the next Verfe. &> that there Jfj all not be any among the Kivgs, likf ttnto thet> aS thy days7\ He promiles he (hould excel all the Kings that were in his time, in Riches and Renown - the Fir ft Bool^of KINGS. Renown : Though there were richer in future Ages, Chapter as Alexander and others were. HI. Ver. 14. Jfthou wilt wall^in my Ways, and fyep my Statutes and Commandments , as thy Father David Verfe did wal^ then I will lengthen thy daysJ] This God himfelf mentions, in the firft Place, (v. n.) as the greateft Worldly BleiOug^ efpecially whenaccompa- nied with great Riches and Honour : Which Solomon was not to expect, unlefs he continued obedient to God. Ver. 15. And. Solomon awofy, and behold, it was a Verfe Dream.'] He faw and heard all the foregoing things fo clearly and diftin&ly in his Sleep, as if he had been awake : And did not know till he awoke, that all was done in a Dream ^ which was one way of God's revealing himfelf to his Prophets, But Malmonides I think is here a little too curious, for from thefe words, Behold^ it was a Dream, he concludes this was an inferiour Degree of Prophecy, from what others had in Dreams. For they that prophecied in Dreams, do not call it afterward a Dream ; but fimply fay, it was a Prophecy. So when th Patriarch Jacob awoke out of a Dream of Prophecy, he did not fay it was a Dream, but faith abfolutely, Surely God is in this Place, &c. XXVIII. Gen. 16. More NewcL Lib. 2, Cap. XLV. And he came to 'jtrufalem, and ftaod before the Ar^ tfthe Covenant of the LORD.~] Which was there in a Tabernacle which. David pitched for it (i Saw.-V. 17.) though the Tabernacle which Mofes made re- mained at Gikew, where Solomon had been, to wor- fliip. And offered Burnt'offerlxgr, and offered Peace-offer*- i&gs.~] Giving Thanks to God, thu: he had been pki- (edtofpeakwiihbim, and reveal hifsfeli to him. And, A COMMENTARY ufon Chapter A* & made a Feaft for all his Servants."] Upon the III. Sacrifices of Peace- Offerings it is likely, which he had L/"V%-f offered . Whereby he endeared himfelf unto them. For nothing more wins Mens Affe&ion, than Bounty, Affability, Clemency, and fuch like Vertues. Verfe 16. Vet. 16. Then came two Women that were Harlots unto the King~] They kept an Houfe of publick En- tertainment, as the Targum tranflates it } and perhaps were alfo common Women: But then, the Jews fup- pofe they were not Israelites, but Strangers . And (6 not comprehended in the Law, XXIII. Dent. 17. And flood before the King.] As they ufed to do, who brought any Caufe before a Court to be judged. Verfe 17. Ver. 17. And the one Woman faid, O wy Lord, I and this Woman dwell in one Houfe 5 and I was deliver- ed of a Son with her in the Houfe. "\ This Cafe, as Alar- binel thinks, Ihould have been firft brought into fome of the Inferrour Courts, near the place where they lived 5 and if they could not have determined it, then to the great Sanhedrin : And if they found it too hard for them, then they (hould have brought it to the King. Who otherwise might have eafily erred, no Inquifition having been made into the matter ^ if a Divine Spirit had not directed him. But this Opi- nion of Abarkinel is grounded on another Fancy, that there was a great Sanhedrin in thefe Days, which cannot be proved. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And it cametopafs, that the third day after I was delivered, that this Woman was delivered alfo.~] Of another Son : Which being born fo foon after the other, they conld not be diftinguifhed by their Age. And we were together $ there was no ftr anger with u* in the Hottfe, fave we two in the Hoitfe."] So that there was no Witnefs of what pafled between them $ but all relied tie Firft Bool^ of K I N G S. 4 p relied on their own Credit: Which made the Caie Chapter more difficult. Ver. 19. AmAtbatWwm&if Child died in tJ^e Night ^ overlaid it.~] Some Mirks upon the Body, it is likely, difcovered, that it was (mothered : And Kiff/chi here notes, that if it had died of a Difeafe, it would have cried, and the Neighbours been called in 5 and the thing been known. Ver. 20. And foe rofe at Midnight and took^ my Son Verfe 20. from befides me, while thy Handmaid flept^ and laid it in her Bofom, and laid her dead Child in my Bofor/t7\ This made the Matter obfcure . For how (hould (he know what her Companion did, when (he was afleep > Ver. 21. And when I rofe itt the Morning to give wy Verfe it. Child fuck, behold it was dead : But when I had conji- deredin the Morning.~] When it was perfect Day ; which it was not when (he rofe to fuckle theChild. Behold, it was not my Son, which I did &ear.~] There was iome rXefemblance, rt is likely, in the Features of the two Children 5 fo that the Neighbours did not know the one from the other : But the Mother, who hadorefully obferved it, knew by fome Tokens that this dead Qiild was none of hers. Ver. 2 1. And the other Womanfaid, Nay, but the livbtg Verfe 22. if my Soft, and the dead if thi Son : and tfriffaid, No 5 but the dead if thy Sffn^ ana the living is >mine. Thus they fpake before the Kig.~] One affirming, -what the other denied : But having no Evidence to :mafce proof of what they faid. Ver. 25. Then faid the King, the one faith ihif if Verfe 23* my Son that liveth, and thy Son if the dead: and <*he other faith, Nay, J>ut thy Son if the dead, and my Son if the living!} -From hence *the Jews argue, that -the Judges before they pronounced ; Sentence, were bound H to A COMMENTARY upon Chapter to fumm up the Evidence ^hat had been given on both II F. fides: That it might be feen they had obfervedand IXWJ underftood their Allegations, and accordingly gave Judgment. For thus Solomon doth in this cafe, where- in there was no more than he repeated : There being no Witneifes on either fide. Verfe 24. Ver. 24. And the King faid, bring me a Sword, and they brought a, Sword to him."] As much as to fay, here is nothing but affirming on one part, and denying on the other without any Proof: I mu ft therefore try fome other way to decide this Controverfy. Verfe 25. Ver. 25. And the Kingfaid, divide the living Child in two .* and give half to the one, and half to the ot/ser.~] For both pretended to it, and this he thought the beft way to end the Difpute. For he knew the Wo- man, whofe the Child really was, would be moved with fuch tender Compaflion to it, that (he would never fuffer it to be divided : And fo he mould difco- ver the true Mother. Thus Interpreters commonly expound it. But Abarbinel thinks this would have been no extraordinary Proof of Solomons Wifdom a- bove other Mens : Nor have begot fuch a Fear in the Jfraelites, as this Judgment did. Therefore he thinks Solomon made a Difcovery of the Truth antecedent to this Experiment $ by observing the Countenance, the manner of Speech, and all the Motions of the Wo- men, whereby he difcerned the Secrets of their hearts, tnd penetrated to the bottom of the Bufinefs: Which this Command to divide the Child, difcovered to all. Verfe 26. Ver. 26. Then fiake the Woman whofe the living Child w#i unto the King (for her Bowels yearned upon her Child) and Jbe faid, my Lord, give her the living Child, and in no wife flay it: but the other f aid, let it be neither mine or thine* but divide it."] Natural Affe- ftion. KINGS. 51 ftion clearly difcovered the Truth, without any other Chapter Evidence. Ill* Ver.2 7. Then the King j aid, give her the Child, aft din IXWJ no wife flay it : for /he if the Mother of it."] As appeared Verfe 27. by the Pity which her Love excited to it* Ver. 28. And all Ifrael heard of the Judgment , which the King had judged : and they feared the King.'} Very much reverenced, and ftood in awe of him. For they farv that the Wifdom of God was in him to do Judgment^ That is, faith Abarbinel, the Wifdom proper to God $ which fearches the Reins, and trieth the Hearts. Therefore they feared hint, perfwading themfelves, they could not have a Thought of any evil Defign againft him, which he would not dif- cover. CHAP. IV. Chapter IV. Verfe i. QO King Solomon was King over *U Ifrael.~\ Verfe I i^ Reigned with the full Confcnt of all the Tribes of Ifrael. Ver.2. Andthefe are the Princes which he k*d^ The Vcrfe 2 Principal Officers imployed under him. Azariah the Son ofZadok.tbe PrieftJ] He was the Son of Ahimaaz the Son of Zadofa and therefore was Za- do%s Grandfon, i Chron. VI. 8, 9. but fuchareufually called Sons in Scripture, as Raji obferves upon XX. Gen. 12. And Zadof^ it is probable, in his Old Age bred him up in his Houfe, as his Child. It is not faid here what Office he had, unlefs we tranflate the word Prieft y as we do in the Margin, chief Officer 5 or prime Minifter of State. But this Abarbinel thinks Ha is 5 , A COMMENTARY upon Chapter ** a Miftake, and he takes him to have been one of IV. the Scribes, together with thofe two that follow in the xx-v^-w next Words, Elrkoreph, and Mah. For thus he-thinks the word (hould be tranflated, Azariah the Sort ofZa- dok, the Pricft, and Elrhoreph, and Ahiah the Son of Shijha were Scribes : There wanting a Van before Eli- horeph, as is frequent in Scripture, I. Exod. 1,2. And tbefe three Secretaries had each their feveral Imploy- ments. One, bethinks, was in Matters of Judgment, the other in the Revenue, and the third was concern- ed in writing Annals, keeping the Records, and was a publick Regifter. Verfe 3. Ver. 3. Either *p, and Ahiah the Sons of Shtflja, Scribes : Jehofljaphat the Son of Ahihnd the Recorder.] Or Matter of Requefts. So Rafi underflands the word Hammaskjr : One that heard all MensCaufes^ and brought them before the King. Verfe 4. Ver. 4. And Benaiah the Son ofjehoiada was over the Hoft : and Zadot^and Abiathar were the Priefts.~\ That is, the Principal, or High Priefts. Kimchi thinks this was not that Abiathar whom Solomon ejedted and p!acd Zado^in his Room (If. 3 5.) but another of that Name. But Palbag takes him to be the fame that was thruft out of the Priefthood : Yet fuftered to minifter, when 2*adoki was not well or could not attend $ and Abarbincl approves of this Opinion. Or, perhaps, Solomon permitted him, upon his Petition, to come to Jerttfalcr*, not to officiate as High Prieft, but to live upon the Altar (according to the Prediftion, i Sam* II. 36.) and he retained the Name and Title of High Prieft, though Zadok. only enjoyed the Office. L'Evt- pereur thinks he 5s here joined with Zadok^ becaufe in the beginning of Solomons Reign, he did difcharge the Office of High Prieft : And after he was depofed he retained the Title of that Dignity as long as he li- ved the Firfi Boo^ of K I N G S. 53 ved, becaufe of his precedent Fun&ion, Aunot. upon Chapter Bertram de Rep. Jad. p. 420. IV. Ver. 5. And Azariah the Son of Nathan was over the v>-v- Officers.'} That is, the twelve Officers mentioned be- Verfc $ low, v. 7, 8, &c. who gave Accounts unto him, who was their Overfeer. And Zabttd the Son of Nathan was principal Officer^ and the Kings Friend.~] The word Cohen fignifies here as it doth, iSam. VIII. 18. Minijler of State , among whom Zabud was the chief : One whom the King in- truded with the Management of all Affairs, and with his moft fecret Counfels .- He being always with him, as Abarbind obferves. Dr. Hammond notes upon IX* S. Matthew, Annot. 2. that the King's Friend was an Officer of Nearnefs to the King : As Mr. Selden obfer- ved before him in his Vxor Hebr. Lib. II. Cap. XVI. p. 501, 202. For Nathan having bred up Salomon (See 2 Sam. XII. 2 5.) it was eafy for him to get his Sons preferred by him to the higheft Dignities under him, when he came to be King : Especially fince he was very Inftrumental in placing him upon the Throne. Ver. 6. AndAbifoar was overt he Houfljcld."] Lord High Verfe -da- Chamberlain (as we fpeak in our Language) who took in, and difplaced Officers in the Family. And Adoniratx the Son of Abda, was over the Tribute.] Which wasimpofed on the People, for the Support of the Government. Such Contributions were raifed feveral ways in feveral Kingdoms: But good and wife Princes took Care not to lay Burdens on (uch things as were necefTary for the Livelihood of the Poor $ and that they were not too^heavy upon any thing.* As Solomons were, if the People's Complaints were juft after his Death : But perhaps this word Tribute^ which we translate /^ in the Margin, may refer not to the levying of Money., but of Rim- Concerning which we* 54 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter we read in the next Chapter, V. 13, 14. where Ado- IV. niram is (aid to be over the Levy : And fo he might be over both, of Men and Money. Verfe 7. Ver. 7. And Solomon had twelve Officers over all Jf- rael, which provided Vi&nalsfor the King and his Hou- /bold : Each Man in hif Month made Provifon.'] The Country being divided into twelve Parts, there were fo many Perfons (called Nztzavim, becaufc there they were placed) conftituted to buy Provifions for the King, and his Family , at the bed hand, and every thing in its proper Seafon: To be fent to the Place where the King redded, by every one in his Month. By which means there was great Plenty for all tiiat belonged to the Court 5 both for his Houfe, and his Stables of Horfes 5 for his Domefticks, and for all Fo- reigners that came thither about Bufinefs, or to hear his Wifdom: Who were there entertained without any Grievance to his People. Verfc 8. Ver. 8. And thefe are their Names : The Son ofHur."] He tells only the Name of the Father, who it feems was more illuftrious than the Son : Unlefs we tran- flate thefe words, Ben-Bur. In Mount Ephraiw."] And the Territory belonging to it.- Which rauft be underftood of the reft of the Places mentioned in the following Verfes. Verfc 9* Ver. 9. The Son ofDekar."] QtBen-Dekar> as thofe that follow may be tranflated : Though it is probable, as I faid before, that the Fathers are named, not the Sons ; becaufe they were very illuftrious Perfons, and better known . Who managed perhaps this Affair by their Sons. In Mafaz, and Shaalbim^ and BethJhemeJJ^ and Elon- Ictk-hanan.'] It is not material in what Country thefe Places were 5 and therefore I (hall not enquire after them, Ver. 10. the Firft BooT^of KING S. 55 Ver.io.T/&, 1 1 , Verfe 16. ^ er - 16. Baanah the Son of rfu/hat was in Aflyer and in Alotb.~\ This Man perhaps was the Son of Httflwi the Friend 0f David : And therefore preferred by-&?- Utnon. Verfe 17. Ver. 17. Jehofoapbal the Son ofParvtih in Iffachar."] It appears by this, and the foregoing and following Verfe, that Tome of thefe Officers had whole Tribes afligned them for their Province. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. Shiwei the SonofEhh^tn Benjamin^ Con- cerning this Perfon. See Chapter the firft, v. S. Verfe 19. Ver. 19. Gcber the Son of'Ori was in the Country of G i lead, in the Country of Sihon King of the Amorltes, and ofOg King ofBaflwn] That is, in the reft of the Country of Gilend before mentioned, v. 13. And ke to as the only Officer which was in the Land."] There is nothing in the Hebrew anfwering to thofe words &;#>< .-Therefore this doth not relate to the Offi- cer before-mentioned, but the meaning is, as Abarbinel expounds it, that befides all thofe Officers before- named, there was another who took Care of Stran- gers ; who were going to Court or coming from it.- As the other XII. took Care of his Family, and all belonging to it. This Officer made Provifion in that Country where the King then dwelt : And therefore is not named, becaufe he was norfixtand fetled in his Office, as the other were ^ but chofen by the Ci- tizens of that City, where the King redded. Ver. 20. the Firfl Book, of K 1 N G S. 57 Ver. 2O. And Judith and Ifrael were many, as the Chapter Sand which is by the Sea in Mitttitude.~] The fame^ir- IV". kind thinks this and the next Verfes explain the Kea- t **~^*^s ion why this Officer was appointed : Firft becaufe ^erfe 20. Jfrael and Jitdah were fo great a People $ and Second- ly, becaufe Strangers came from feveral Kegions, to bring Prefents, or about other Bufinefs. And there- fore it was neceflary this Officer flaouid fet a reafona- b!e Price upon all things fold in the Market $ that they might not exad upon any Body, when they faw a Multitude of Buyers, which might tempt them to fell their Commodities too dear. Eating and drinking, and making merry, ,] In perfedfc Security 5 and being well pleafed and highly fatis- fied. Ver. 21. And Solomon reigned over aS Kingdoms Verfe it. from the River, to the Land of the Philiftines, and un- 1o the Border of Egypt.'] The Bounds of his Kingdom, were Euphrates on the Eaft, the Country of the Phi- liftines on the Weft $ and Egypt on the South. For fo God promifed that their Dominion mould be ex- tended, from the River of Egypt tff the great River the River Euphrates, XV. Gen. 18. And accordingly Da- vid conquered fo far, and Solomon maintained his Conquefts. They brought Prefents, and ferved Solomon all the days of hit Life.'] This explains what went before . Which is not to be underftood as if ail thofe Coun- tries had no other King than Solomon ; but that their Kings were Tributaries to him, and made him Prefents in token of their Subje&ion. Ver. 22. And Solomon j Provi/ion for ont day, B?^ Verfe -ft ft. thirty Meafttresoffine Flour, and jfixty Meafures of Meal.] By Meal is meant a coarfer fort of Flour for inferiour Servants: And the Meafure here fpoken of contained I $8 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter ten Ephaphs. So here was Bread enough provided IV. for near three Thoufand Perfons, as fome compute L/-VNJ it. Verfe 23. Ver. 23. Ten fat Oxen, and twenty Oxen out of the Paftures, and an hundred Sheep."] This and the fore- going Verfe Abarbinel thinks is added to fatisfy fome Queftions that arife about the Conftitution of fo ma- ny Officers : For why might he not be fupplied out of the Neighbouring Cities and Towns? Which he (hows here could not be 3 becaufe of the vaft Quan- tity of Provifion which was necefiary for one Day. And it is obfervable, that Oxen are here mentioned in the firft Place (both thofe fatted at Home, and thofe fatted in the Paftures) being anciently efteemed the moft noble Meat : As appears by Homer's Heroes. Who as Diofcorides notes* never had any thing in their Feafts, no not at Marriages, but fat Oxen. See Bochar- t#f in his HierozoicoK, P.I. Lib. II. Gap. XXXII. where he mentions the great Entertainments made by Aga- tnemnon, Menelaw, Neftor, Alcinout. Nor did they that courted Penelope, though the moft voluptuous of all Men, eat any other Meat. Bejtdes Harts, and Ro-bucks^ and PaUovo Deer."] Which were Meats highly efteemed among the jFeir/, and mentioned next to the foregoing, XIV. Dent, 4> 5' And fatted Fo*>l.~] Many reftrain the word Barbit- rifft to Birds, or Fowl, as we do : And fome think they were Capons : Kimcbi and others fay, fatted Fowl out of Barbary ; from whence they had the Name of Barburini. But the Name of Barbary was not known in Solomons time : And therefore Bochart thinks the word (hould be tranflated, the chojceft of all fatted things, Hieroz* P. 2. Lib. I. Cap. XIX. and fo Goujftt in his late Commentaries of the Hebrew Tongue. i Ver, 24, the Firfl Eoo\ BRINGS. Ver. 24. And he had Dominion over all the Regions Chapter on this fide the River."] It might be obje&ed to what IV. was faid before, that all the Country of Ifrael could IXWJ not afford fuch a conftant Supply of Provifions :Verfe 24. Which he prevents by this Obfervation, that his Do- minion extended to a great many other Regions, from whence they might be furniftied with more than his own Country afforded. From Tiphfuh even unto Azzah, over all the Kings on this fide the River."} This is an Explication of what is faid, v. 21. that he reigned from the River, that is Euphrates , to the Land of the Philiftines : For Tiph- fah is the fame with the City Tapfaeus 5 where there was a Bridge, and a Ferry over Euphrates^ as Strabo teftifies in many Places (See Lib. XVI. p. 747.) and and the very Name implies as much, for nos is tran- fire, to pafs over, in the Hebrew Language. And he had Peace on all fides round about."] None of his Neighbours gave him any Difturbance .- So that the Ifraelites had nothing to divert them (as Abarbind obferves) from improving their Lands, and increa- fing their Rents 3 whereby there was a greater Plenty x of all things. Matchiavel magnifies thofe who by N Force of Arms atchieved mighty things, and raifed themfelves to a great Heigth of Glory : But Herman- nut Conringiu* well corrects him with this Obferva- tion, that Solomon among the Jews, and Nttma Pom- piltttf among the Romans, got a more lafting Name in all future Ages by the Arts of Peace. For which he refers to Cicero, L' 2. de Officiis. Ver. 25 1 . And Judah and JJrael dwelt fafety every Vet fe 25 Man under hit Vine, and under hfc Fig-tree, from Dan even to Beerfljeba.] This he faith (the fame Author thinks) to fhow the great Plenty of Corn and Wine and Oyl, as well as of Cattle and all other things I 2 Vines A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Vines and Fig-trees are particularly mentioned 5 be- IV. caufe they were planted in Jud i Chron. VI. 46. who is joyned with Heman and Afapk as principal Singers, i Chron. XV. 17. Now the fore- mentioned Pfalms may more reafonably be afcribed 'A CO MMENTART upon Chapter to them ^ there being exprefs mention of David and iy. his Kingdom in one of them .- And then Solomon ie L/"VW compared only with the wife Men of h's own time, and not with thofe that lived before Mofer. They that think other wile of thefe Men, were milled by the Jew ^ who would have fome Pfalms to ha\e been compofed ' before David. This they began to fuppofe (asamoft Learned Friend of mine Dr. Alix hath obferved to me) after the times of the Apoftles, asfajlirt Martyr affirms in his Apologv, p. 76. The Sons ofMahoi.] This confutes thofe that make them the Sons of Zerah : Unlefs we fuppofe him to have had two Names, as it muft be confefled was common among the Jews. And this laft Name might be given him, becauie he was a skilful Mufician .* For Mahol fignifies a Pipe. And hit Fame was in all Nations round a.boHt7\ All the Neighbouring Countries heard the Fame of his Wifdom. Vcrfe 32. Ver. 32. And hefyake three thouptnd Proverbs^ Be- ing an excellent Moral Philofopher, as well as a Na- tural : St. Hierom thinks thefe are thofe we read in the Book of the Proverbs , which doth not contain fo ma- ny. But is more probable than what Jofephift affirms, that he wrote three Thoufand Books of Proverbs : Which is an extravagant Conceit ; for the Scripture mentions only three Thoufwid Proverbs, many of which we muft confefs to have been loft, as other Compofures of his are. And hif Songs were A thoufand and five."] He was a great Poet alfo: For anciently wife Men were wont to give good \ nftrudtions in Songs 5 which made them to be more eafily remembred. But none of thefe Com- pofitions were thought to be divinely infpired, but only the Song of Songs: Which was therefore joyned to tie Firfl Book, of KING & to the Sacred Books. The reft were not adapted to Chapter flir up a Senfe of Piety ^ as the Pfalms of David were: IF. Who is therefore called the Sweet Singer of Ifrael^ ^"\r>-> 2 Sam. XXIII. I. Ver. 35. And Jje fpake of Trees ^ pom the Cedar TreeVerfe 21. that ff in Libantt*, even unto the Hyjjbp that fpringeth out of the Wall. ~\ That is, of all forts of Plants, from the greateft to the fmalleft. For Ezub (which we commonly tranflate Hyjfip) feems to be the fame with the Ethiopian Word Az^ib^ which fignifies Minth ; and is more agreeable to this Place, being more directly oppofed to the Cedar than Hyifop : Which .hath a Stalk, and fometirnes of great Strength, as de D/Vand Job Ludolphuf have obferved. And for this Reafon Hottinger (in his Swegma Oriental^ p.. 580.) takes it for the Wall Flower, which is lefs than Hyffop. But Bochartuf maintains Hyflbp to be here meant yof which t\\zjews reckon four forts : And one of them may well be thought to grow upon Walls. Though there is no neceflity he thinks to put that Interpretation upon the word Bckjr, -which we tranflate ontheWall: Which may fignify, as the Particle Beth .doth in many places, near or hard by the Wall. Of Jerufalew, that is, which was incompafied with Mountains .* And the Arabians obferve that Hyflbp grew in the Mountains, efpecially about Jerufalem. See Hiero&oicon, P. I. L. 2. Cap. 50. From Solomons great Skill in the Properties and Vertues of all Plants, Nachmanides makes bold to conclude that he wrote a Book of Medicine. And he fpake alfo of Beafls and Fowl, And creeping things, and Bfljes.] This (hows the Vaftnefs of his Learning : Which comprehended the whole Hiftory of Animals, as well as of Plants ; whofe Nature and Qualities he underftood. Some Jews fancy that Ari- ftotle (aw thefe Books, and publifhed them in his own K Name, . 66 A COMMENT A KY upon Chapter Name, in his Hiftoria. Ammalmm. It is a Rule given IV. by thofe who write Books of Civil Prudence, that they t/VNJ who apply themfelves to the Management of publick Affairs, fhould not follow other Studies . Which by their Delight may draw their Minds too much from Bulinefs : But Solomon had fo vaft a Genius, that he purfued all manner of Knowledge, while he govern- ed his Kingdom with great Prudence. For he com- pofed a great number of Songs, and difcourfed of all forts of Creatures, both "in the Sea and in the Land : Which belonged to contemplative, not to practical Studies. So that in his Days the With of Plato was fulfilled, that either Philofophers might be Kings , or K/ngs he Philofophers. Verfe 34. Ver. 34. And there came of all People to hear the Wif- dom of Solomon from all Kings of the Earth, which had heardofhfrWifdomr\ It is a conceit of Kimchi that Kings came from all Parts of the Countries round about, to hear his Wifdom: And their People when they returned, came to their Kings to learn what So- lomon had faid. But this is not the Literal Senfe of the words ^ nor is it probable that any but the Queen of Shcba, came in Perfon to hear his Wifdom For they would have been mentioned, as (he is. Therefore the plain meaning is, that People came from all the Neighbouring Nations, being fent by their Kings, who heard of his Fame : Nay, their own natural De- fres might carry them to him. For as Dion Prufeuf obferves (Orat. de Regw, p. 6.) there is no Spectacle fo greateful, as a wife and good King. All Men flock to fee him and partake, THS ^Afc &&$; ajtfrSik, of his good and pious Mind. Efpecially if be be mild and gentle, there is no Spectacle fo fweet and lovely : Infomuch that they who fee him, are to leave him (as he fpeaks a little before) and. they the Firjl Boo^of K I N G 5. 67 *hey that heir him, ffinSvfjL&w iS v v, 6tc. are defirous to fee him, mpre than Children are to find their un- known Father. CHAP. v. . cha p'; r ;, Verfe I. \ND Hiram King ofTyrefeni hit ferv ants Verfe I. ,L\ unto King Solomon^ That is, he fent Embafiadors to condole with Ring Solomon , the Death of his Father fas the manner wasj and to congratu- late his Acceffion to the Throne. Eupolemut calls this King Snron ("as he is called Huram in the Book of the Chronicles) and makes mention of thofe Letters, which were fent by thefe Embafladors. See Eufebitts in his Pr.] The word which we tran- flate F/rv others think fignifies Pine or Cyprcfs. For Fir teems not To fie for this Work, being a light Wood, and not durable, and apt to take Fire. Their Conje- &ure is moft rcafonable, who think it was a kind of Cedar: And therefore comprehended under that Name. i). 6. where Solomon defires of him only, that his Ser- vants might hew him Cedar Trees. Verfe 0. Ver. 9. My firv ants fo all bring thzm down from Leba- non, unto the Sea."] The Mediterranean Sea 3 in which his City ftood. And I will convey them by Seamflotes."] Some think they were tied together, and drawn in the Water by Vefiels } as the manner now frequently is .- But they wanted not Veflels wherein to convey them : for Dio- dorvs Siculus faith, (Lib. VI.) that Sidon had in his time, TJLV(%W j 7nvT)i*&$ ^G-ia^ 7$f tVa^ov, more than an Hundred Tnree Oar and Five Oar Veflels belong- ing to it : And that City was but two Thoufand Fur- longs from Tyre, as Strabo faith. unto the place that thon fialt appoint MC.~] Which was Joppa: A famous Sea-Port in the Country of Ifrad^ 2 Chron. II. 1 6. And 1 mil caufe them to be d/ft barged there, andthou jhalt receive them r\ When they were landed in that Place. And than foalt accoff/pli/h my defire in giving Food for my Houfl)old.~] For living in barren Illands, they wanted Corn 5 though they had Plenty of Money : Being great Merchants. And in after times, it appear?, they were fupponed by Provifions from Jud not yet cut down and prepared. Verfe 10* Ver. ii. And, Solomon gave Hiram twenty thoufand Verfe n Meafures of Wheat for Food to his HoHjJjoU, and twenty Meafures ofpureQylT] In the 2 Chron. II. 10. it is faid twenty Thoufand Baths of Oyl . How Corim and Ba- thim differ I (hall not examine 5 but that place in the Chronicles plainly fpeaksof what was given to the Workmen, who had other things befides (there men- tioned) to fupport them in their Labours.- But here the Prophet fpeaks of what was given for the life of Hiram's Family, a$ Kir/tchi and Ralbag folve this feern- ing Contradiction. Abarbinel hath another Solution. See Buxtorf, his Vindici* Hebr. Veritatit, Pars II. Cap. . II. p. 414. Thw gave Solomon* to Hiram Tear by Tear.~] During . their Lives. Ver. 12. And the LORD gave Solomon Wifdom, as Verfe w. kef>romifed~\ His Wifdom appeared more and more, in all his Tranfaftions^ And there n>a* Peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they two made a League together. 7 ] It was lawful in an- cient times, before the Law of Mofes was given, to make Leagues with Strangers to their Religion, for their mutual Benefit.- As appears by the Story of Ja^ cob and Laban^ Ifaac and Abimt-lech (though fome doubt whether he was an Idolater) and the Law of.> Mofes made no Alteration, zsGrotiuf obferves, Lib 2. dc. Jure Belli & Paw, Cap. XVI. Seft. !X. If Hiram thtrcfore worthipped other Gods, Solomon might not- withftanding make a League with him (infomuch that Hiram calls him Brother, IX. 13) he being none of . the Seven Nations of Canaan. Ver. 1 . j, 2 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Ver. 15. And King Solomon raifcd a Levy out of all V. Ifrael, and the Levy was thirty thoufand men. ~] To cut l^^A/X; down the Trees, which Hzrarx's Servants were to Verfe 13. hew. Verfe 14. Ver. 14. And fint them to Lebanon, ten thottfand a Month by Courfes : a Month they were in Lebanon, and two Months at home.~\ That they might not be tired with their Labour ^ nor negled their own Families, while they were imployed abroad. And Adoniram was over the Levy.~] Took care to raife them, and to fee them difpofed according to Solo- mon% Order. See IV. 6. Verfe I f . Ver. 1 5. And Solomon bad threefcore and ten thou- fand that bare Burdens.] Viz. Porters, Carters, Sea- men, and fuch Ivke. And fourfcore thoufand that were Hewers in the Moun- tains."] That is, Hewers of Stone, for Timber was hewed by Hiram 's Servants in Lebanon. And thefe Hundred and Fifty Thoufand were not Ifraelites, as the Thirty Thoufand before- mentioned were: But Strangers of other Nations, as may be gathered from IX. 21, 22. It may feem ftrangeto fome, that fo ma- ny Men (hould be imployed about the building of fo fraall a place, as the Temple was : But they muft confider that there were many other Works befides > which Solomon defigned and \v hich he finifhed (IX. 15.) for which we read oi no other Preparations of Materials, but what was now made. Verfe 16. Ver. 16. Be/ides the chief of Solomons Officers, which were over the Wor^ three thoufand and three hundred which ruled over the People that wrought in the \Vorl{J] In the 2 Chron. II. 18. they are faid to have been three Thoufand and fix Hundred : For three Hundred were Overfeers even of the three Thoufand three Hundred, who were to overfee the reft. That is, Superior Offi- cers, the Firft %oo\ built of Stone made ready before it was brought thither.] So fitted for their feveral Ufes and Places, that Uiey might be joyned together, without any other Labour, but putting them one by ? or upon another. Chapter So that there was neither Hammer^ nor Ax, nor any VI. Tool of Iron heard in the Boufe^ while it was in building.] VXVNJ The Senfe is plain, that the Stones were laid without any Noife $ there being nothing to be done but to joyn them together. But the Jews are fo foolilh as to fancy, that they were not hewn nor plained by any Inftrument before they came thither : But a Worm called Samir, which God created on purpofe, did the Bufinefs.- And that the Stones of their own accord came to the Temple : And there the Angels laid them in their Place and Order. See L* Empereur upon Co- dex Middoth, p. 183. Which Fable arofe from Some- body that did not underftand the word Samir j which fignifies a very hard Stone called Smiris (zzBocharttit hath obfervedj with which Stones might be cut and polithed as Diamonds are. See Hierozoicon, Pars a. Lib. VI. Cap. \l. An Emblem this was, as all Inter- preters note, of that Peace and Quiet which (hould be in the Chriftian Church: Where all things (hould be done without Contention. Utinam Detts hoc tan- dem aliquando elargiatur^ ttt omnes in domo fno idem Jicamw & fentitmus, as P. Martyr prays upon this place. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. The Door of the middle Chamber] By which they were to go into the middle row of Chambers. Was in the right Jfde of the Houfe.~] On the South-fide, which in Hebrew is called the right fide , becaufe when Men look toward the Eaft, the South is on their right hand. Some think there was the like Door in the North ; but it is more likely, that one Door ferved to carry them round to all the Chambers. And they went /> with winding Stairs into the mid- dle Chambers.'} That they, might take up the Jefs room. And the Firft BooJ^of KINGS. 79 And out of the middle into the third."] There was the Chapter .like pair of Stairs into the third Story. VI. Ver. 9. So he brilt the Houfe andfinifhed /V.] That CX\^\J is, the Walls of the Houfe. Verfe 9. And alfo covered the Houfe.'} He alfo covered the top of it. With Beams and Boards of Cedar."] In the Margin, the Vaultings and the Ceilings of Cedar. That is, the Roof was an Arch within, which made it look more noble, though without it was flat. Ver. 10. And then he built Chambers again/I all the Verfe ia Houfe^fve Cubits high >.] The word then is not in the Hebrew ; and being omitted the Senfe is plain, that he gives an account of the Heigth of thefe Chambers, as before (v. 6.) of the Breadth. But it is very briefly; and we are to underftand that thofe below, and thofe in the middle, and thofe above, were every one of an equal Heigth, viz. five Cubits. So they were fifteen Cubits in all : Which was five lefs than the Heigth of the Houfe, for that was twenty Cubits. Otherwife there would have been no room for the Window : Which, I fuppofe, were above all thefe Chambers, in the top of the Houfe. Ver. ii. And the word of the LORD came to Solo- Verfe n, mon, fay ing ~] By the Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite, as the Jews fay, in Seder Olam Rabba, Cap. \X. For it is not (aid, that God appeared to him, now as he did, III. 5. 8c IX. 2,5. In which later Place it is faid, God appeared to him the fecond time: Which is a Proof (as Abarbinel notes) that now God did not appear to nim, but fpake to him by a Prophet. Ver.. 1 2. Concerning this Houfe, which then art in Verfe ia. building^ if thoti wilt walk, in *y Statutes, and execute my Judgments and keep all my Commandments to walk, In them then will! perform my word withthee^ which I A COMMENT ART upon Chapter fp*b unto David thy Father.'] 2 Sam. VII. 13, Here VI. Abarbiml makes a Qusery, why this Prophecy is in- L^W> ferted in the middle of the Work, which might feem to have been more proper in the beginning, or after it was ended > But Solomon laying the Foundation, and railing the Building very firm and ftrong, which might laft to many Generations, God would not have him prefume upon its Duration, unlefs he and the People of Ifrael were obedient to him : And therefore told him, he had better not proceed, nor be at any further Charge, unlefs he intended to be a good Man, and obfervc all his Laws. And the Continuance of this Houfe, and of God's Prefence among them depen- ding on this, plainly fignified that let him build it ever fo ftrong it (hould be demoliftied, if he proved difobedient. Verfe 13. Ver. 13. And I will dwell among the Children of If- rael.'] As he had done in the Tabernacle, XXV. Exod. 8. And I will not forfake my People Ifrael^] But protect them in the good Land he had given them. Vcrfc 14. Ver. 14. So Solomon built the Hottfe^ andfinffied ?'/.] Godfpakethe foregoing words, while he was build- ing it, that he might defift, if he did not intend to be obedient to him. But thefe words import, that notwithftanding this Admonition, he went on, to build the Houfe, as magnificent and durable as he in- tended . Refolving to keep God's Commandments. Verfe 15. Ver - X 5* Atdhe built the Walls of the Houfe within with Boards of Cedar.~] He wainfcotted, as we now fpeak, the whole Houfe with Cedar. Both the Floor of the Houfe and the Walls of the Ceil- iftgJ] Or, as we tranflate it in the Margin, from the Floor of the Houfe, unto the Walls of the Ceiling. That is, from the Bottom to the Top. And the Fir ft &4 of K I N G S. 8 1 And he covered them in the injide with Wood."] The Chapter word them is not in the Hebrew. Which if we retain, VI. it relates to the Walls of the Ceiling: That is, to the top of the Houfe, which in the infide were covered with Wood, i)* p. And covered the Floor of the Houfe with Planks of Fir.} Or, with anetheT fort of Cedar, which was a great deal firmer, and more lafting than Fir. See Chap. V. 8. Ver. i &. And he built twenty Cubits on the fide of the Verfe Houfe?] The Houfe here meant, is the moft Holy Place : For he had fpoken of the other part of the Houfe, called the Sanctuary , in the foregoing Words. Both the Floor and the Walls with Boards of Cedar."] Or, as in the foregoing Verfe, from the Floor to the Walls of the Ceiling. He even built them for it within, even for the Oracle, even for the moft holy Place."] Here he explains what he meant by the Houfe> in the beginning of the Verfe. And this was moft properly the Houfe of all the Parts of the Temple.- Becaufe here the Divine Glory inha- bited, and from hence God gave Anfwer, when he was confulted. It is called Debir : As the outward Houfe is called Hechal. Vcr. 17. And the HoufeT] That is, the holy Place, Verfe as the next words explain it. That *r, the Temple before it^] That part of the Houfe, which was before the moft holy Place. In the He- brew the words are before my Face : That is, before the Place where the Divine Glory appeared. Was forty Cubits long."] As long again as the moft holy Place. See v. 2. and 16. Ver. 1 8. And the Cedar of the Houfe within was car- Verfe 1 ved with Knobs.~] Of an oblong Figure, like an Egg, M as 8i A COMMENTARY nfon Chapter as Forfberus thinks, comparing this Place with i VI. 4- Where there is the like words, and there tranQa^ t^WJ ted Gourds. And open Flowers!} Not Buds, but Flowers fpread and full blown. AUwas Cedar^ there was no Stone feen.~] This relates, I fuppofe, to the Knops, and Flowers, which were all of Cedar : And fo doth not contradict, 2 Chron. III. 5. Verfe IQ. Ver. 19. And the Oracle he prepared in the Houfe with- ' i, tofet there the Ark. of the Covenant of the LORD."] In the innermoft part of the Houfe he fitted the moft holy Place to receive the Ark of God. It feems to be called the innermoft part, becaufeit was furtheft from the Entrance into the Building. The Jewffi Do- &ars have a Conceit, that this fignifies a Room which he made under Ground (under the Floor of the Ora- cle) where the Ark might be hid, in cafe the Houfe (hoaldbe laid defo-ate. And he made this Cave in very deep and winding Burrows, putting a Stone up- on the Mouth of it, upon which the Ark ftood. Here Jofah they fancy hid the Ark, and the Pot of Manna, aad the Rod of ~ Aaron, and the holy Oyl, where they were found after their return from Babylon. For which Story there is no Foundation 5 and it contra^ di&s what they all acknowledge, that there was no Ark in the iecond Temple. It is far more reafonable to think that by Debir, which we tranflare Oracle, is here meant the Pa-tirion which feparated the holy Place from the moft holy : Which bdomon\s here faid to have 'prepared or eftablimed, in the midft of the Houfe, as the words are irr the Hebrew. This Govjfit hath made probable . Though it appears from v. 25. (where the Cherubims are taid take within the Oracle) that this word Ggnifies not only the Partition whidi made the Firfi Boo\ of K INGS. S 3 made the Separation, but the Place it felf which was Chapter feparated thereby from the Sanctuary, to be God's VI. Dwelling place. L/^Wi Ver. 20. And the Oracle in the fore part ."] That is, Verfe 2Q. In the innermoft part before-mentioned: Which is alfo called the fore part, becaufe it was before him that entred into the Houfe. WAS twenty Cubits in length, and twenty Cubits in Ireadth, and twenty Cubits in the heigth thereof^] It was a perfect Square. And he overlaid it with pure Gold."] Not merely giit it, but covered it with Plates of Gold . For the Gold amounted to fix hundred Talents, as Ear* faith, 2 Cbron. HI. 8. Andfo covered the Altar."] Of Incenfe, which was before it in the holy Place. V\ hich was of Cedar. ~] Or, he covered the Altar with Cedar, that the Gold might the better lie upon it. Vr. 21. So Solomon, overlaid the Houfe with pure Verfe n. Gold.~] That is, the moft holy Place ("calling the O- racle in the foregoing Verfe) which he made as fum- ptuous as he could, for the Divine r\efidence. And he wade a Partition by the Chains of Gold."] The moft holy Place was feparated from the Sanctuary, by a Partition . Before which there was a Vail alfo j which hung upon Golden Chains. Thus this Paflage is to be under ftood, for the Partition it felf, did not depend upon Chains. And l&werlaid it with Gold."] That is, overlaid the Partition. Ver. 22. And the whole Houfe he overlaid with Gold.'] Verfe Si. This is meant of the Sanctuary, which was overlaid with Gold, as well as the Oracle. M 2 Vnttl 84 ^ -C M U E N fA R T nfon Chapter Until he hadfnifhed all the Hottfe^] Some think the VI. very Chambers, which were without the Houfe, were */*V^ likewife made thus fplendid. But I fee no ground to affirm it. Alfo the Altar that was before the Oracle, he covered with Gold.~] That is, the Altar of Incenfe 5 thence cal- led the Golden Altar : Which was in the upper end of the Sanftuary, near the Entrance in the Oracle. This he covered with Cedar, v. 20. and now over- laid with Gold. Verfe 22. Ver. 23. And -within the Oracle hema.de two Cheru- bims, of Olive Tree, each ten Cubits high.~] Thefe were different from thole made by Mofes $ which were of folid Gold: And arofe out of each end of the Mercy Seat } being of one piece with it, and looking one upon the other, XXV. Exod. i S, 1 9. But thefe were made of Olive Wood; or as it is in the Hebrew, of Tree ofOyl. For many fuch fort of Wood there were be fides Olive ^ as Pine, Cedar, &c. And thefe two are plainly diftinguiihed ^ Olive, and Oily Wood, in the VIII. Nehew. 15. Here it may be proper to note, that the word Debir (which weconftantly tran- flate Oracle) comes from Debar, which fignifies to fpfal^t) becaufe God, who dwelt between the Cheru- bims declared his.Mind from hence, when. he was con- fnlted by the High Prieft with Urim and T-ixtnimim: And it (rill retained this Name, though we never read of any Anfwer by Urim and Thummim while this Temple ftood, becaofe it had been the Place from whence God had been wont to fpeak to the High* Prieft. \ have obferved elfewhere,. that there might be the Ufe of Urim and Thumntim in this Temple^ though it be not recorded : But it is highly probable that upon their rejecting the Government of God, and turning the Theocracy^ into an Humane Government by the Firfi Bool^ of KINGS. 85 by Kings, God ceafed to direft and govern them by Chapter that Divine Oracle. During the Reign of David in- VL deed, there is Tome Footfteps of it, their new Go- ^^v^-* vernment by Kings being not yet well eftablimed : So that we may think there was a Mixture of the Theo- cracy ft ill with it, as may be gathered from 2 Savt.ll. i. III. 19, 23. XXI. i. But after that, there is not the kaft glimpfe of it 5 but they inquired of God by the Prophets, i Kings XXII. 5. 2 Kings III. n, 29. XXII. 14. where the High Prieft himfelf, being fent by the King JoJ/ah to inquire of God, went to Huldah the Prophetefs. Which is a Demonftration, that the An- fwer by Urim and Tkuntmim^ ceafed when God's Go- vernment was caft off by them : To which that Oracle properly appertained. Ver. 24. And five Cubits was the one Wing of the Che- Vcrfe 24, rub, and five Cubits the other Wing of the Cherub : from the utter waft part of the one Wing to the utter woft part of the other Wing, was ten Cubits.] Whereas thofe of Mo fes were only fo long as to cover the Mercy Seat : Which was but two Cubits and a half in length, XXV. Exod. 17. Ver. 25. And the other Cherub was ten Cubit t$ both Verfe the Cherubints were of one Meafureand one Size."] So that they fiUed the whole Breadth of the Houfe ; which was twenty Cubits. Ver. 26. The heigth of one Cherub was ten Cubits^ andV&fc Jo was it of the other Cherub.~] They flood upon their Feet, upon the Floor of the Houfe (2 Chron. III. 19.) each being ten Cubits high, as was faid at the.-firfr, v. 2 5; That is, half as high a the Houfe. Ver. 27. And hefet the Cherubims within the Moufel} With their Faces toward the San&uary . So that they lookt upoa-hitn that entred into the Oracle. 8i5 A 'CO MIX EN TA R r Chapter And theyftretched forth the Wings of the VI. Or rather (as in the Margin) the Chernbhvs firetcheA W^TVJ forth their Wings. So that the Wings of the one touched the one. Wall, and the Wings of the other touched the other Wall.~\ That is, the South and the North Walls of the Houie. Where- as the Wings of thofe Cherubims that Mofes made, ft retched from Eaft to Weft . For they looked one upon the other over the Mercy Seat, And their Whigs touched one another in the midft of the Houfe.'] Where they muft needs meet, being five Cubits long on each fide (v. 24.) and the Houfe twen- ty Cubits wide. Verfe 28. Ver. 23. And he overlaid the Cherubims with GoldJ] So that there was four Cherubims in the maft holy Place of '0/A0sr0j*'s Temple. Two leffer nude by Mofes of Matty Gold ^ and two larger made by Solomon, overlaid with Gold. Thofe made by Mofes were part of the Mercy Seat, and infepmble from it.- Thefe of Solomon feem to have fpread their Wings over it, be- ing added only for the greater Ornament and Glory of God's Houfe. So Abarbinel obferves, that Solomon 4jd not make a new Ark, whidi was the only thing made by Mofis, which Solomon did not imitate and make more glorious. But this he durft not prefume to open, and to take out the Book of the Law $ and put it into an Ark of his own making. It being un- lawful for him to touch it, and therefore he let it re- main, with its Cover, the Mercy Seat, and the Che- rujshns belonging to it: And only placed thefe new Cherubims over it, as a Covering to it, for the grea- ter Beauty of the Houfe. Verfe 29. Ver. 29. And he carved all the Walls of the Hottfe round about with carved Figures ofCherubims, and Palm- the Fir ft Boo\of KINGS. 87 Trees, and open Flowers within and without."] Both in Chapter the moft holy Place, and in the San&uary. yi. Ver. go. And the Floor of the Houfe he overlaid with CXWI Gold, both within and without.'] This hath the fame Verfe 30. meaning with the foregoing words : That the Floor of the whole Houfe, both the inner and outward part, was overlaid with Gold, which made it wonderful fplendid and magnificent. Ver. 31. And for the entrance of the Oracle^ he madey^fe . Doors of Olive-Tree. ~] Or fame Tree that was Oily. See Dr. Lightfoot of the Temple^ p. 87. The Lintel^ and fide P oft* were afifth part of the Wai/.] Thefe words are very obfcure: For the words of the Wattztz not in the Hebrew $ but only a fifth. Which may beunderftood to fignify, that they held the Pro- portion of a fifth part to the Doors. But thete ane thofe who think, the Meaning is, that this Gate was the fifth in number belonging to the Houfe. Thefirfr, they make account was that which let into the Court of the People . The fecond, into the Court of the Priefts . The third was the Door of the Porch : The fourth, of the holy Place $ and this fifth of the Ora- cle. And accordingly they interpret thofe words, t>, 33. the fourth. Ver. 32. The two Doors alfo were of Olive-Tree ~] Or, Verfe 22, as it is in the Margin, the Leaves of the Doors > Ex- plaining what fort of Doors they were, viz. Folding Doors, as it follows, v. 34. And carved upon them Carvings of Cherubims^ and Palm-Trees, and open Flower s^ and overlaid them rr h Gold : and fyread Gold upon the Cher ifhints and Palm- Trees.~] The meaning fcms to be, that he laid Plates of Gold upon the DNoors of the Houfe, and gilt the Cherubims, Trees, and Flowers^ $8 A COMMENTARY upon 'Chapter Ver. 33. So alfo he made for the Doors of the Tut/pie."] " VI. That is, of the holy Place. C/-VNJ Pofls of Olive-Tree, a fourth fart of the Wall.'} See Verfe 33v. 31. Verfe 34- Ver. 34. And the two Doors were of Fir-Tree. ~] Or, of a kind of Cedar $ as was before obferved. The two Leaves of the one. Door were folding, and the two Leaves of the other Door were folding^ Whereby they took uplefs room, when they were opened. Verfe 3f. Ver. 35. And he carved thereon Cherubim s, and Palm- Trees, and open Flowers, and covered them with Gold, fitted upon the carved WorQ This was faid before, v. 32. therefore repeated, I fuppofe, to fignify that both fides of the Doors were thus carved and covered with Gold. I have not meddled with the Myftical Signification of any of thefe things . In which Mens Fancies differ very much . Though in one thing they all agree , that by the Cherubims which were fo plen- tiful in every part of the Houfe, the Hofts of Angels are reprefented, there attending upon the Divine Ma- jefty, as his Minifters to execute his Pleafure. Verfe 36. Ver. 36. And he built the inner Court. ~] Which was that wherein the Priefts officiated. With three rows of hewed Stone, and a row of Cedar- beams."] That the People who were in the outward Court might fee what the Priefts did : The Wall which feparated the Priefts from the Court of the Peo- ple being but three Cubits high (as moft underftand thefe words) for the Cedar was not laid upon the top of the Wall : But wtre the faceing of it, within-fide. The Priefts likewife from hence might fpeak and deli- ver any Meflage from God to the People. I conclude this Account of Solomon's Worth, with an Obfervation of Abarbinel : That this Divine Wri- ter doth not mention fevcral things belonging to the Houfc t be Firjl Eoo\ of K I N O S. Houfe of God, as the Altar of burning Offering the Chapter Caxdlcftick, the Table, the Laver (though they were VI. ten times as many as M&fts made, See 2 Chron. III.) i^v* 1 ^ becaufe his Intention was only to explain the great things which he did, and fuch as wrought in Men Admiration : Not things in which there were no MajeCly, nor any great Coft bellowed upon them. Therefore he takes notice of the great and precious Stones (that is, Stones of great Price) wherewith he laid the Foundation of the Houfe (v. 17.) and the reft of the things mentioned in this Chapter $ which were very chargeable, and which (bowed the Great- nefsot his Mind, his Wifdoro, Prophecy (as his words are) and Rjches: But other things, as the Court of the Temple, &c. he paffes over competklioufly. But this Obfervatk>n is not altogether true $ for though this Divine Writer do not take notice of every thing made by Solomon in this Chapter: Yet in the next, I think, he omits nothing fave only theBrazeu Altar of Burnt- offering, which is not mentioned in this Book among Solomons Works } but taken particular notice of in iChron.lV. i. where its large Diraen- fions are defcribed. All other things, as the Lavers, the Candleftick, the Table, &c. are here mentioned in the following Chapter. Ver. 37. Iff the fourth Tear was the Fonndation of the Verfe 27. Houfe laid, in the Month Zif.*] He repeats this (which wasfaid v. i.) to fubjoin in fhe next words, how long fhe Houfe was in building. Ver. 38. And in the eleventh Year, in the Month Bttl^ Verfe 28. which if the eighth Month^] As Zif was the Second. W(K the Roufefnijhed thronghovt atftbe parts thereof, and according to all the faffjfan of rt.~] Every thing was compleatly finidbed, according to his defign 5 without any need of Addition, or Alteration. N St 9 o A COMMENTARY nfon Chapter So teas he fatten Tears in building itj] And an half : VL But the lefler Number is omitted, as is ufual in thefe s, and in other Authors : Particularly half a Year is omitted in the Reign of David, who is only faid to have reigned forty Years. See the fecond Chapter of this Book, v.n. And confidering the Curiofity of the Work, and the Scarcity of Men of Skill, it is no wonder that it was fo long, before it was perfected : But rather the Alacrity and Diligence of Solomon (as Abarbinel notes) is to be admired 5 who finifhed this Work With all the fpeed he could make , when he was almoft as many more Years in building his own Houfe, which was not fo coftly and fumptuous. An account of which" is given us, in the beginning of the next Chapter: Where the Author tells us he built two Houfes, and fets down the Dimcnfions of one of them. Chapter CHAP. VII. Verfe i Verfe I.TJZJT Solomon upas building hit own Houfe iJ thirteen Tears^ and he finiflied all his Houfe.'] He did not not begin to build his own Houfe, till he had finifhed the Houfe of God : That nothing might hinder that holy Work. This appears from IX. 10. where we read he was twenty Years in build- ing both. , ^er. 2. And he built alfo the. Houfe of the For eft of Lebanon.'] The fore-named Houfe was in Jerufalem : Near to which he built anotheir, in a cool, (hady Mountain $ which made it referable Mount Lebanon. And here he dwelt in Summer, as in the other in Winter the Ftrft B0<% of KIN OS. 9 i Winter. But it is not likely it was in Mount Leba- Chapter non 3 for that was in the very Extremity of his King- VII. dom 5 where he would not have fet his Throne ("as LXVM hefeems to have done in this Houfe, v.j.) for that was too far diftant, from the ufual Place of his Refidence. And for the fame reafon he would not have there pla- ced the Golden Shields that he made ^ as we find he did, K.i 7. It was therefore near to Jerufalent fas ap- pears from XIV. 25, 26.) and called by the Name of the Foreft of Lebanon : Juft as many pleafant and de* lightful Places in that Country were called Cartttel. Becaufe it was in a lofty place like Lebanon 5 and the Trees which grew there made it very (hady and cool. The length thereof was M hundred Cubit s.~] Which was not longer than the Houfe of God ,- if we take in all the Courts belonging to it. And the heigth thereof thirty titbits^ The Heigth of the firft Story was fo many Cubits . Upon which, in all likelihood, there was another of the like Heigth. Upon four rows of Cedar Pillars^ Which fupported the Building $ and made four Walks under it* With Cedar Beatns upon the PiUars.'} Upon which was laid the Floor of the next Story. Ver. 3. And it was covered with Cedar dove, po* Vcrfe t the Beams that lay on forty five Pillars , fifteen in A row?} So- there were but three rows of Pillars in the fecond Story, which were fufficient for the Support of the Roof. And we may guefsfirom hence that there were threefcore Pillars below. Ver. 4. And there were Windows in three rms, attd Vcrfc 4* Light was againft Light.'] Dire&ly oppofite one a- gainft the other: Which we call thorough Lights. A COMMENTARY nfon Chapter In three ranks. ~\ Or, on three fides of i he Houfe, Vll. the South, the North, and the Eaft-, that it might ^-^V*^> have the freer Air. On the Weft-fide was the Porch, and fo no Windows were there. Others interpret^ the Windows were exadly one under another in three rows. Verfe 5. Ver 5. And all the Doors and Pofts were fan are wit h the Windows^] The Figures of the Doors and of the Windows were one and the fame, viz. fquare. And Light mas againft Light in three ranks*] This is meant of the fmaller Windows, that were over the Doors: Which it is likely were alfo fquare. Vcrfe 6. Ver. 6. And he made a Porch of Pil/ars i> the length thereof was fifty Cul/ts, and tie Breadth thereof thirty Cu- bits."] This was for his Guard, and for People to walk in who came about Bufinefs (as well as for State and Ornament) and therefore was covered to keep them dry in rainy Weather. And the Porch was before them."] That is, before the Pillars of the great Houfe, before fpoken of. And the other Pillars^ and the thick Beams were be- fore them."] That is, they were directly oppofite one to the other. Or, if we follow the Marginal Tran- flation (according to them) the Senfe is, that it had its Pillars and Beams juft like the great Houfe : And, it is likely, Rooms built upon thofe Beams for his Servants. Verfe 7. Ver. 7. Then he made a Porch for the Throne where- he might judge, even the Porch of Judgment. ~] So it was called becaufe here he (at to hear and determine the Caufes, that People brought before him. With whom he would not have his Houfe cumbred 5 but made -this Porch without the Houfe, where he dif- patched fuch Bufinefs. And the Firft Boo\ef KINGS. And it was covered vpftb Cedar from one fide to the Chapter ffther."] In the Hebrew, from Floor to Floor : That is, VII. from the Ground to the Roof of the Porch. \^v^x Ver. 8. And his Hottfe where he dwelt had another Verfe 8.. Court within the Porch^ which was of the lify WorkJ\ There was a Court between the Porch and the Houfe, which may be called the inner Court : And then ano- ther beyond the Porch, which may be called the out- ward. So that it ftood between two Courts, which were both alike. Solomon alfo built an Houfe for Pharaoh's Daughter*] Near, I fuppofe, to his own Houfe $ (he being a Per- fon of the higheft Quality, and his firft Wife. Which he had take* to Wife^ See III. I. Lify unto the Porch."] Not for Figure, or Bignefs .-. But for the Materials of which it was built. Ver. 9. AH thefe were ofcoftly Stones , according to the Verfe Qv meafure of hewen Stones^ fawed with Saws, within and without7\ All the fore- mentioned Buildings were poli- ihed on both fides : So that they appeared both with- in and without 5 that is, both on the infide which was toward the Palace of Solomon, and on the out- fide which was toward the great Court. Even from the Foundation unto the copeing.] From the bottom of the Building to the top of it. And fo on the outjtde toward the great CourtJ] Not only on the Front of the Houfe, but on the back-fide of it, toward the great Court. Ver. 10. And the Foundation was of coftly Stones t Verfe 10. wen great Stones often Cubits, and Stones of eight Cnbits>~\ By coftly Stones (mentioned here and in the fore-going and following Verfes) are not to be underftood pre- cious Stones . But Stones that being bigger and firmer, and better polifhed than others, were of greater Price: As Bofhartus explains it, both here and V. 1 7. Ver. u. A C M ME N TA R r upon Chapter Ver. 1 1. And above were coflly Stones (after the ntea- VII. furc of hewed Stones) and Cedars."} The Roof was fi- *W%J nithed after the fame manner ; with Stones, and Ce- Vcrfe ii-darBcaras. Vcrfe 12. Ver. 12- And the great Court round about."] Viz. of Solomons Palace. Was with three rows of hevten Stone^ and a row of Cedar Beams."] Juft like the inner Court of the Houfe of the LORD, VI. 36. and fo the following words are to be underftood. Both for the inner Court of the Houfe of the LOR D.~] Or rather, as for the inner Court of the LORD'S Houfe : For fo the Particle Van fometimes fignifies. And for the Porch of the Hottfe."] Of Solomons own Houfe. Vcrfe 13. Ver. 13. And King Solomon fent and fet Hiram out of T^re."] For though he was an Israelite by Birth, yet he dwelt at Tyre : And its likely had the Privileges of that City, and fo was one of King Hiram's Subje&s. And therefore in a Chron. II. 13. that King faith he fent him to Solomon. That is, granted his Requeft, that this Man might come and ferve him. And according- ly Solomon fent for him and fetcht him to Jeru- ftleftt. Verfc 14. Ver. 14. He was a Widows Son of the Tribe of Naph- tali.'] She her felf was of the Tribe of Dan, 2 Chron. II. 14. but her firft Husband was of the Tribe of Napth t*li$ by whom (he had this Son. And his Father was a Man of TyreT^ When (he was a Widow (he married a Man of Tyre : Who is called Hiram 's Father, becaufe he bred him up, and was the Husband of his Mother. A Worker in Brafs."] And in Stone, and Purple, and a great many other things, as we read in the Place above- the Firjl Eoo\of KINGS. 5,5 above-mentioned. But Brafs is only mentioned here 5 Chapter becaufe he is going to fpeak only of fuch Works* VII. And he was filled in Wifdom And Understanding^ a*d cunning to work. ^U Work^ in Brafs. ,] He had an excel- lent Genius to this Work $ and befides the Inftru&ions of his Father, it is not improbable that God endued him with great Skill in contriving, and alfo working all manner of Work of this fort. And, he came to King Solomon, and wrought all his IVorkJ] He prefently found him to be an excellent Ar- tift 5 and fo employed him in all his Bufinefs. Ver. 15. And he caft two Pillars of Brafs of eighteen Verfe Cubits high a piece.] In the 2 Chron. II. 1 5. it is faid he made two Pillars of thirty five Cubits high: 'Which doth not contradict thefe words, it being evident that there he fpeaks of both the Pillars (as Abarbinel ob- ferves) which were thirty five Cubits. But here he (peaks of them fingle, which were each but eighteen Cubits. Both of them indeed made thirty fix Cubits 5 but one Cubit muft be allowed for theBafisof each, which is not confidered in the Book of Chronicles. This feems a better Solution of this fmall Difficulty than that of L' Empereur in his Preface to Codex Middoth^ where he faith 6*ne of thefe Writers fpeaks of the com- mon Cubit, and the other of the Sacred, which- was double to the common. Each Pillar therefore he thinks was eighteen facred Cubits, but thirty five common : To which one common Cubit muft be added for the Bafis . But this Diftinftion of common and facred Cu- bits is not allowed by every Body. And a Line of twelve Cubits did compafs either of them abont.~] So they were four Cubits in Thicknefs. See Dr. Lightfoot of the Temple, p. 6 1 , 6 2 , 6 3 . And L Em- pereurs Preface to Benjamin Tttdelenjis. Eupolemut a . Heathen Writer, takes notice of thefe Pillars, and A CO MM EN T4RT nfon Chapter &y s tne y were as high as the Temple. Eufebivf L. IX. Vlf. Prtpje* Evang. Cap. 34. U~V~\j Ver. 1 6. yW /*/& f>0 Chapiters of molten Brafs to Verfe I6.y*f ^ the top of the Pil/ars : the hcigth of the one Cha- piter was five titbits^ And the heigtb of the other was five Cubits.~] This account of them Ezra alfo gives, a Chron. III. 15. Yet in the 2 Kings XXV. 17. they are faid to be but three Cubits. Bat it is to be obferved that it immediately follows in that place, there was a wrea- then Works and Pomegranates upon the Chapters : Which in all made five Cubits : And are all here comprehend- ed in the word Chapiter. Verfe 17. Ver. 17. And Nets of Cheker-wor^ and Wreaths of Ckain-rtork) for the Chapiters which were upon the top of the Pillars.] This curious Work incompafled the Cha- piter, and contained, as it were, the Pomegranates af- terwards mentioned : Which might be feen through tbefe Nets, Seven for the one Chapiter, andfevenfor the other Cha^ piter."] Some think thac each Chapiter was adorned with Leaves, and Flowers, and Fruit in four Orders: Which were boond about with three Chains. But it is very hard to explain this Work, which is fo very briefly defcribed. See Dr. Lightfoot in the fore-named V^rfe 1 8. Place. e Ver. 18. And he made th Pillars.'} That is, he fi- nifhed them in this manner. See the fame Author, p. 63. And two rows round about upon the one Net-work, to cover the Chapiters that were upon the top, with Pomegra- nates . and fo did he for the other Chapiter."} There were two rows of Pomegranates ; which took up one of Verfe 19. the five Cubits, whereof the Chapiter confifted. Ver. 1 9. And the Chapiters that were upon the top of -the Pillar*, were of LHj-work^] In Imitation of Lilies. In r b Firfl Boo\ofKl^G S. In the Porch.'] Such as were in the Porch of theChapt Temple. VII. Fonr Cubits^ The other four Cubits were of this U*Wi Lily-work, except the mid die. Ver. 20. And the Chapiters upon the two Pillars had Verfe 20. Pomegranates alfo above^ over againft the Belly^ which JVM by the Net-n>orki\ This is very obfeure, becaufe (hortly delivered. But the meaning feems to be, that the Lily-work being above and below, at the top and the bottom of the Chapiters, the middle Cubit, (cal- led the Belly) was all covered with Pomegranates. And the Pomegranates were two hundred rottttd abotf upon the ether Cha$iter.~\ In the Book of Jeremiah LIJ. 15. it is faid that there were Ninety fix on a fide 3 but all of them, upon the Net-work, were an Hun- dred in all. Which Abarbintl thus explains. The Pomegranates on the Net- work were toward* the four Quarters of the World $ being twenty four towards each Quarter } which in all made Ninety fix. And in each Angle, there being one great Pomegranate they made up the Number an Hundred. Ver. 21. Andhefit up the Pillars in thePorch of the Verfe 21. Temple : and he fet up the right PiUar^ and called the Name of it Jachin, and he fet up the left Pillar, and called the Nante thereof Boaz.~] It is generally thought that thefe Pillars were made and erected only for Or- nament 5 becaufe they fupporttd ao Building, But AbarbinePs Conje&ure is not improbable, that Solomdn had refpeft to the Pillar of the Cknad, and the Pillar of Fire that went before chem and coQdii&ed them in the Wildernefs, and wasdie Token of the Dmne Pfo- vidence ewer them. Tfoefe he Cet at the Porch or En- trainee of the Temple (Jac&in teprefenting the Pillar of the Cloud, and Beaz the Pillar of Fire) praying and hoping that the Divine Light, and the Cloud of O hit A COMMENTARY nfon Chapter his Glory would vouchfafe to enter in there : And by VII. them God and his Providence would dwell among **s-v~*s them in this Houfe. Verfe 12* Ver. X2. And upon the top of the Pillars was Lify- workj] This feeras to have been faid before, v. 19. but the next words, So was the work, of the Pillars fnified, (how that this was a new Addition, to crown all . After the Pillars were erected ; as Abarbmel obferves. Verfe 23. Ver. 2. And he ntade a molten Sea.] The Hebrews call any great Collection of Waters by the Name of a Sea. So the Lake of Genefaret 9 and others are called in the Gofpel : And here it fignifies a great Veflel, containing abundance of Water. Which ferved for the wafhing of the Sacrifices, and of the Priefts and Levites . Who wafhed their hands and their Feet 5 not in it, but with Water drawn out of it by Pipes or Conduits. Ten Cubits from tke one brim to the other y and it was round about."] Of a circular Figure. And its heigth was five Cubits.] Befide the Heigth of the Oxen whereon it ftood. And A Line of thirty Cubits did compafs it about."] For the Diameter being ten Cubits, this muft be the Compafs of it This Sea was filled with Water by the feileonites : Who were afterward called Nethi- nims. 24* ^ er * 2 4- And under the brim round about there were Knops comparing it."] They were in the Shape of an Egg : On the top of every one of which was an Ox Head 5 from wnofe Mouth Water gufhed out : So Abtrbinel gathers from 2 Chron. II. 3. where they are called Oxen, from the Figure of their Head. Ten in a Cubit comparing the Sea round about."] So there were three Hundred of thefe Knops in all : The Sea being thirty Cubfcs round. Tt>e i he Firft Boot^ of K I N G S. 99 The Knops were caft in two rows, when it was caft.~] Chapter They were not carved afterward, but caft at firft when VII. the Sea was molten. And there being two rows of them, Abarbinel thence concludes there were fix Hun- dred in all, one under another. From whence Water might flow out of the Sea, to warn a great Number at a time. Ver. 2. And it flood upon twelve Oxen.] Oxen were Verfe ufed not only for drawing the Plough, but for carry- ing Burdens upon their Backs .- As they are ftill em- ployed among the Indians. Whence Solomon placed the Figure of thefe Creatures under his molten Sea, as the Supporters of it. There was fo little Danger of their being worfhipped, that the Meannefs of the life to which they ferved, hath made fome believe that So- lomon made them in Contempt of the Golden Calf, which the Israelites worfhipped in the Wildernefs 5 and placed them under the Sea, that the People might fee there was nothing worthy of Adoration in thefe Figures. Jofephw indeed thinks Solomon offended in making thefe Images; But this is confuted by the Glo- ry of the LORD filling the Temple after it was fi- nifhed. Which (bowed that he approved of all this Work, which it is likely was done by his Inftru&ion : But fome great Men think Jofephtts is in the right. Three lookjng toward the North, and three looking to- ward the Weft^ and, three looking toward the South, and three looking toward the Eafl.~] This feems to import that this Sea was fquare (the Oxen looking towards the four Quarters of the World) where as it is faid before, z>. 25. that it was round all about. And (bit was (as the jFen?//& Interpreters, particularly Abarbinel and Ralbag expound this) In the Brim of it, it was perfectly round, and fo it continued in the two upper Cubits : But below the Brim (in the three lower Cu- O 2 bits) ioo A COM MENTART upon Chapter bits) it was fquare. Arid, as Kimchi thinks, in the VII. two upper Cubits there were no Knops : But in the LXWJ three lower, juft above the Oxen that fupported the Sea. And the Sea wasfet above upon them, and all their hin- der parts were inward."} Under the Sea, that they might not be feen. Ver. 26. And it was an hand breadth thick^ and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a Cup, with Flowers of Lilies."] In the Shape of Lilies : That is, not plain and ftraight, but bending downwards, after the manner of thofe Flowers, See Dr. Light foot of the Tent pie, p. 230, Sec. It contained two thoufand Baths I] A Bath being of the fame Bignefs with an Ephah (XLV. Ezef(. n.; is thought to contain eight Gallons : So that this Sea contained five Hundred Barrels ^ that is, it had thus much Water conftantly in it. But if it had been filled up to the Brim, it would have held three Thoufand Baths, as we read 2 Chron. IV. 5. which Quantity they were not wont to put into it, left with the Wind it fhould run over. Or, as the moft learned of the Jews reconcile thefe two Places, thefe words in the Book of the Kings are to be under flood of moift things 5 but thofe in the Chronicles of dry : Which be- ing neaped up it would contain a third part more, than of things liquid. With which fome compare thofe words of our Saviour, VI. Luke 38. good met- fure, heaped up, ftakgn together, and running over. Verfe 27. Ver. 27. And he made ten Bafts of Brafs."] Tables or Stands upon which theLavers (mentioned below, v. 38 J were to reft. See Dr. Lightfoot of the Tem$h, p. 228, 8cc. Four Cubits was the length of one Baft, and four Cu- tits the Breadth, and three Cubits the heigtb thereof?] They the Fir ft Boo% of KING SI 1 01 They were madeio broad that the Lavers might ftand Chapter more firmly, being each four Cubits . But not fb high, VIL that the Priefts might more eafily reach to warn the C/VNJ Sacrifices in them, 2 Chron. IV. 6. Ver. 28. And the Work of the Bafes, was in this man- Verfe 28* ner, they had Borders."] To keep up the Lavers from-. falling. And the Borders were between the Ledges .] It is not eafy to apprehend what he means by Ledges : Bccaufe as P. Martyr obferves, we have no fuch work in thefe Days. And on the Borders that were between the Ledge s^ere Lions, and Oxen, and Cherubims7\ Oxen are called Cherubims in X.Ezek 14. Therefore the meaning here is, that bcfides Lions and Oxen, there were other Cherubims (the Figures of Eagles perhaps) which adorned thefe Borders. And upon the Ledges there was a Bafe above."] This is fo darkly exprefled, that I do not apprehend the meaning .- Unlefs it be this, that the upper Ledge was over the Heads of thefe Animals $ and the under Ledge was that upon which their Feet refted, as the next words fignify. And beneath the Uons An A Oxen were certain Addi* tions ntade of thin Work^] Under thefe Figures there was fome other Work added f which was not caft together with them) and drawn very thin. Ver. 30. And every Bafe had four brazen Wheels?] y er f e They run upon Wheels like aCoach r or Chariot : And fo might eafily be removed from place to place, as the Convenience of the Priefts required. And PLtttsofBrafs.~] Between the Wheels, and the- Bafes. See Dr. Lightfoot in the fame Book, p, 226. And the fow -Corners thereof^] For they were fquare a . ,aa A COMMENTARY Hf on Chapter Had TJnder-fetters^ In the Hebrew Shoulders. Vlf. Which were fitly fo called, becaufe as Burdens are C/W> born upon Mens Shoulders , fo were the Lavers upon thefe : Which fupported them, when fet upon the Bafes, and kept them from falling when they run upon the Wheels. Under the Lavers were Under- fetters molten, at the fide of every Addition.'] Thefe were molten with the Bafes, when they were caft. Vcrfe 31. Ver. 31. And the Mouth ofit.~\ The Bafes feem to have been hollow at the top $ that the Feet of the La- vers might enter in, and be faftned there : And this he calls the Mouth of it. Within the Chapiter ', and above. ~\ Nothing of a Cha- piter is mentioned till now : Therefore it is hard to know what is meant by it. Many take it for a fmal- ler Bafis, rifing out of the greater.- In which was the Mouth, or hollow place before fpoken of. Was aCubit.'] In Heigth. See v. 35. where it is faid, on the top of the Bafe was a round Compafs half a Culit high. Which feems to be meant of this Cha- piter, which rofe but half a Cubit above the Bafe, the other half being below it. But the Mouth thereof was round, after the Work, of the Bafe, a Cubit and an half."] This was the Widenefs of it. And alfo upon the Mouth of it, were Graving: with their Borders, four fquare, not round7\ Though this hollow Place, called the Mouth, was round within 5 yet on the outfide it was fquare, and had Borders which were engraved. Ver. 32. And under the Borders were four Wheels 5 and the Axle-trees of the Wheels were joined to the Bafe : 4d the heigth of a Wheel was a. Cubit and half a, Cubit ^ So the Firft Boo^ of KINGS. 103 So that the Bottom of the Bafe was not far from the Chapter Ground. VII. Ver. 33. And the Worl^ of the Wheels was like f/5evxv*^x Workof a Chariot Wheel.'} Only the hinder Wheels, Verfe 33. and the fore Wheels were all of a heigth. Their Axle-trees, and their Naves, and their Felloes, and their Spores were all molten^} Caft together with the Wheels. Ver. 34. And there were four tinder- fetters t& ^Verfc 24- four corners of one bafe : and the Underfetters were of the very bafe itfelf.~] He mentioned the Under- fetters before, v. 30. Now he relates the Number of them 5 *nd that they were of the fame piece with the Bafe it felf^ being caft together with it, and not made af- terward. Ver. 35. And on the top of the Bafe there was a. round Vcrfe 25". Cowpafsofhalfa Cubit highJ} See v. 31. And on the top of the Bafe, the Ledges thereof, and the Borders thereof were the fame.] Caft all together at the fame time. Ver. 36. For on the Plates of the Ledges thereof ^ and Verb 36. in the Borders thereof he graved Cherubims, Lions, and Palm- trees, according to the proportion of every one, and Additions round about."} In the Hebrew $ according to the Nafydnefi of every one: WhidMj&ms to fig- nify that thefe Figures, were as big, as me void Spa- ces in the Plates would admit. Ver. 37. After this manner he made the t en Bafe s, *#\r er f e 37 of them had one cafting^ one meafure, and one Sife^ They were caft in the fame Mold 5 and all of the fame Big- nefs and Shape. Ver. 38. Then made he ten Lavers of Brafsl} Verfc 38. Which were to ftand upon theBafes fore-mentioned. One ^COWMEN T A R T upon One Laver contained forty Baths."] See v. 16. From VIL whence it will appear that each of thefe Lavers con- VXWJ tained ten Barrels of Water. And every Laver was four Cubits^ Some think that they were of thisHeigth. But thete words rather re- late to the Diameter of them, which was four Cubits: And then their Compafs was twelve Cubits. Upon every one of the ten Bafes one Laver.~] The Bafes being exaftly fitted to receive them > For they were each four Cubits in Length and Breadth, v. 27. Vcrfe 39. Ver. 39. And he put five on the right fide.~\ That is, on the South-fide, See VI. 8. Of the Houfe.'] That is, of the Court where the Priefts mi niftrcd. And five on the left fide oftheHoufe^] That is, on the North-fide of that Court. And he fet the Sea on the right fide of the Hottfe Eaft- ward) over againft the South^} That is, in the South- Eaft : So that as foon as the Priefts entred fwhich they did at the Eaft Gate) they might have Water to wafh their Hands and their Feet. Verfe 40. Ver. 40. And Hiram made the Laver s^ and the Sho* uels^ and the Bafans : Jo Hiram wade an end of all the Work that he made King Solomon for the Houfe of the LOR P.] Thefe feern to have been the laft things that he made .- And fo he finifhed all the Work, which he recapitulates, with the Addition of fome other not mentioned before. Shovels, fbrmftance, or Bee- foms wherewith they cleanfed the Altar from the Afhes 5 that they might not hinder the Fire from bur- ning: And Bafons, wherein the Priefts received the Blood of trie Sacrifices that were offered. Vcrfe 41 Ver. 41. The two Pillar *, and two Bowls of the Cha- piters, that were on the top of the two Pillars : and the two Fitf 3*4 of K I N G S. 1 05 Net~tt>0r-J$s to cover the Bowls of the Chapiters that Chapter were an the joy of the Prf/trs- VII. Ver. 42. And four hundred Pomegranates for the two CXVSJ Net-w&rk/j even- the two rows of Pomegranates for 0#e v cr * c 4 a * Net-work^ to cover the two Bowls of the Chapiters that were upon the fiUtrsJ} Ckfogto fumrn v=o ?.; the Works he had finished, he now adds the awnher of Pome- granates that were upon the Pillarjs .- Vy hieh -had not been mentioned before. Ver. 43. And ten Bafts, and ten Lavers upon f/jeVerfe 43* Bafef. Ver. 44. Ant o.n& &ea, ajjd twelve Oxe* uvdzr the Verfe 44, Sea. Ver. 45. And the Pots."] Pots .qr .Cauldrons were Verfe 45. thofe y^iTels, wherein .they boiled thofe Sacrifices which were divided between .the Prieft and the Peo- ple that offered them. That is, tfeace-fifferings, that they might eat them before the LORE), and feaft with him upon his own M^at. Shovels, and Bafons.~] ?They are mentioned before, Jttjt here I fvippofe hive A .flifferent Signification (^though in the Hebrew the Words are the {arnej from what they had in v. 40. And.the firft word fignifies fiefljfoekf, wherewith they, toak the Meat out of the Pots: And the fecond the Blatters or Dimes into which it was put, to be fet before them. And all thefe Vejfils which Hiram .made to King So- lotqon, -for the Hattfe of the LORD were of bright Brafsi] Or poJHhed Brals : Or, the pureft and fineft that could be got. The .Syriack. and Arabic,^ Tranflatbrs render it, Corinthian Brafs : But it is not credible, that it was known in the Qays-of Solomon. Ver. 46. Jn theifltiin.of {Jordan did the King cafl Verfe 46. ihem, in the Clay-groviKiJjeiupeen Succoth and Zarthan.} In the H dleftkks, The. the Firji Bool^ of K I N G S. 107 The Lampt) and the Tongs of Gold.'] Wherewith to Chapter take Coals from the Altar of Burnt- offering. VlL Ver. 50. And the Bowls And the Snuffer /, and the Bufons, And the Spoons ^ and the Cenfcrs of pure Gold, The Ufeofthefe is vifible. The firft being to keep Oyl for the Lamps j the next to trim them . The 5*. fons (~which were an Hundred, as we learn from the Book of Chronicles} were to receive the Water of Sprinkling, and the Blood of the Sacrifices which was fometiraes brought into the moft Holy Place. The Spoons ferved to take up the Oyl. The Cenfers were for offering Incenfe : Though fome tranflate this word, Difl}-pans> wherein the Incenfe was kept. There were other Cenfers of Silver, which received the Coals from the Altar upon all Days, but the Tenth ofTifri (which was the great Day of Expiation) when the Golden Cenfer received them, and by it the moft Holy Place was incenfed. On other Days it was not employed, but at the Altar of Incenfe .- Where the Coals were poured out of the Silver Cenfer (which received them from the Altar of Burnt-Offerings) into the Golden, to burn the Incenfe : As the Talmudifls fay, both in Codex Jotna. and Tamid. Where they al- fo fay that the foregoing word Capoth^ which wtf tran- flate Spoons, fignifies a Veflel which contained the /- cenfe that was to be offered upon the Coals in the gol- den Cenfer. See BrAunius in his Selefla Sacra^ Lib. 2. Cap. V. where he hath learnedly explained both thefe words Caph and Machtah, which we tranflate Spoons and Cenfers - y where he hath demon ft rated the later fignifies the Inftrument that received the Coals from the Altar of Burnt- Offering, and the former, that which had the Incenfe in it, to be poured upon them. And the fringes of Gold i oil for the Doors of the inner Houfe, the moft Holy Place 5 and for the Hottfe, to w'rt P 2 * io8 A COMMENT ART upon Chapter of the Temple.'] This (hows the vaft Riches of Solomon, VII. and his great Piety .- Which made him fpare no Coft L/*VNJ to Beautify the Houie of God, and the meaneft thing belonging to it. Whereby the People, who were much taken with outward Splendor, were preserved from Idolatry .- For they could go no where and fee a Place comparable to this of Solomon ^ there being then nothing in the whole World, like to it for Ri- ches and Glory. Verfe 51. Ver. .51. So was .ended alt the Work that King Solo- mon made for the Houfe of the LORD : and Solomon brought in the things that David hw Father had dedica- ted, even the Silver and the Gold, and the Peflels did lie put among the Treasures of the Houfe of the LORD.! t L I TT 1 'At T . I I 1 t_ II I obiervcd upon VI. i. that Abarbmel thinks he would ufe none of the things that were dedicated by his Fa- ther : But do all at his own Coft and Charges. Yet others think thefe words mean ho more, but that all the remaining Silver and Gold, which David left, and was not fperit in this Work, 'Solomon would not employ to his own Hfes : But relieioufly preferred in the Treafury of the Temple. Where the Altar of tiurnt^jflfering, which Mofes made, and fome other, things, which were now of no ufe ("far better and T L' IN < 1 1 UT>U larger being made) were alfo laid up; as the Taber- nacle it 'felf was. For the Temple beinV built there ri s+ r t ~ , *i was no further occabon for the Tabernacle . And yet it was fit to prefer ve it, as a Place that had been Holy to the LORD. C k A P, tbe Firft Boo^of KIN G & 109 CHAP. VIII. Solomon tffembledt r*el.] That is, the Judges in their fe~ Verfe i. \ ND Solomon tffembledthe Elders of If. Verfe i _\ veral Cities. jfod *# fe Heads of the Tribes.'] Every Tribe had one or more principal Ruler in it. And the chief of the Fathers of the Children oflfrael.~] The principal Perfons of every Family in thofe Tribes. Unto King Solomon injerufalem^ Where theHoufe of the LORD was now fixed. That they might bring up the Ark. of the Covenant of the LORD out of the City of David, which if Z/0#.] For thither David had brought it from the Houfe of Qbed-Edom, and made a Tabernacle of it ( 2 Savt.VL 12, ij.) until a fixed Houfe mould be prepared for it: Which was now built upon a neighbouring ; Mountain. . Ver. 2. And all the Men of Ifrael.] AH the fore- Verfe named Perfons, with their Attendants : Which no doubt were numerous. Affemblcd themfelves unto King Solomon at the Feafo: in the Month Ethanint, which fa the feventh Month.~\ Here the Targnm thus Paraphra^fes, in the Month which anciently was called the frft Month, bat now is the fe- venth /And called Ethanim, becaufe raorefacred So- lemnities (which were the Support and Strength of their Religion and Government^ were appointed in this Month, than in any other. And among the reft the Feaft of Tabernacles v which is here meant IIO A COMMENTARY *fon Chapter as Kwn-hi and Abarbinel and others think. And up- VIII. on the occafion of this Aflembly the Jews obferve in CyV"^ Seder Qlam Rabba, Cap. XV. that, the Schekjnah doth not dwell) but in the Congregation. Verfe 2. Ver. 3. And all the hlder s of Ifrael came7\ All the . fore mentioned great Perfons, were called Elders: And are here comprehended under that Name. And the Priefts took up the Ar^. ] The Ark had been carried by the Priefts three times before this.- When they went over Jordan $ when they incompafTed the Walls of Jericho ; and when David fent it back, when he fled from Abfalow, 2 Saw. XV. 29, 30. It was the Office of the Levites to carry the Ark upon their Shoul- ders, except upon fpecial Occafions . And now they could not, becaufe it was not lawful for them to en- ter into the Holy Place 5 into which it was to be car- ried, and then into the mod Holy. It is faid indeed, 2 Chron. V. 4. that the Levites took it /> . But the mea- ning is, that they took it up and carried it to the Temple, and then the Priefts took it up (v. 6.) and carried it into the Holy Place. Verfe 4. v er- 4. And they brought up the Ark^ of the LORD $ and the Tabernacle of the Congregation.'] Together with the Ark, they brought up the Tabernacle. But the Queftion is wtiat Tabernacle, whether that made by Mofes which was in Gibeon^ 2 Chron. I. 3. or that made by David which was at Jcrufalem, 2 Sam. VI. 17. I think the later is never called the Tabernacle of the Con- gregation, as the former frequently is. But it may DC probably thought that both of them were now car- ried into the Temple, and laid up there 5 to avoid ail Danger of Superftition and Idolatry : And that no Worship might be performed any where, but only at this Houfe of God, which he now dedicated to him. And the Firfl BooJ^ of K I N G S. FIT And all the holyVeffds that were in the Tabernacle."] Chapter' Viz. the Alrar of Incenfe, and the Table, and the VIII. Candleftick, and every thing belonging to them Which remained in the Tabernacle, when the Ark was removed from it. Thefe did the Priefts and the Levites bring up."] The Priefts brought up the Ark , and the Levites carried the Tabernacle, and the Veflels of theSan&nary. Ver. 5. And King Solomon, and all the Congregation of Vcrfe Jfraelthat were affembled unto him t n>ere with him before the Ark.~] When it was brought into the Houfe of God, and fettled there 5 for it is not likely fuch a Multi- tude of Sacrifices as follow, could be offered in the way from Mount Sion to the Temple, as fome were when David brought it from the Houfe of Obed- Edom to Jerufalem, 2 Sa#/. VI. 1 3. And facrifced Sheep and Qxe* that coM not be num' bred, for multitude.] That is, a vaft Number $ which might have been told, but not eafily : As was faid before of the Weight of the Brafs imployed about the Veffels of the Houfe of God, VII. 47. See there. Here is no mention of Solomons dancing before the Ark as David did } for all Holy Men were not alike moved by God : Their Tempers and Conditions being very different. Solomon was now in a State of great Tran- quility, and conftant Pleafure : But David had been difturbed by the Stroke upon -Vzzak^ a little before his great Tranfport of Joy, at the fafe Condud of the Ark to ferufdlem. Ver. 6. And the Priefts brought in the Ark^ofthe Co- Verfe venant oftht LORD into his Place, into the Oracle of the Houfe, to the moft holy place, ,} Before the Glory of the LORD filled. the Houfe, the Priefts were permit- ted to enter into the Oracle : But afterward none but the High Prieft: might approach- fo near unto- the Di* vine- i la A COMMENTARY upon Chipter vine Prefetice, which dwelt there: And he but once VIII. a Year. VXWJ Even under the Wings of the Cherubims."] Which So- lomon had made. For the Cherubiriis inade by Mofes, were fixed to the Mercy Seat and infeparable from it : And iitood together with the Ark under thefe Che- rubims. -Verfc 7. Ver. ? F r t ^ }e Cherubims fpread forth their type Wings over the place of the Ar\: and the Cherttbrms co- vered the Ar^ and the Staves thereof 7\ For they weie very large, ftretching forth their Wings fronvone ifide of the Houfeunto the other, VI. 22, 24, &c. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And they drew out the Staves, that the end of the Staves were feen out in the holy Place before the Ora- cle."] By the Holy Place, is here meant the moft in the room of David VIII. my Fat her ^ and fit on the Throne of Ifrael, as the LORD xx>^-^^ promtfedj and have built an Houfe for the Name of /ta Verfe 2O LORD God of Ifrael. ~\ He concludes as he began, with a thankful Acknowledgment of the Faithfulnefs of God in performing his Promife. Ver. xi. And havefet there a place for the Ark^] The Verfe 21 Token of God's Prefence among them. Wherein is the Covenant of the LORD, which he made with our Fathers-^ That is, the Tables of the Covenant: Which by a Figure are called the Covenant, becaufe they contained it. When he brought them out of the Land of Egypt."] And told them that by the Tenure of this Covenant, they were to hold the Land of Canaan. Ver ,2 2 .And Solomon flood before the Altar of the LOR D. ] Verfe 23, Having fpoken the foregoing words with his Face to* ward the People, and blefTed them : Now he turn'd about again with his Face toward the Altar, to make a folemn Prayer to God. Iff the Prefence of all the Congregation of Ifrael."] Be- ing advanced upon a Scaffold which he had made $ of three Cubits high (as we read in the 2. Chren. VI. 13.) fo that all might fee and hear him. And fyread forth hfe hands toward Heaven."] Which was a folemn Pofture of Prayer, among other Na- tions, And it is evident both from that place in the Chronicles, and from v. 54. of this Chapter 5 that when he had flood a while with his Face toward the Altar, he fell down upon his Knees, and fpread forth his hands toward Heaven. Ver. 23. And hefaid, LORD God of 'Ifrael ',' there Verfe 224 if no God like thee in Heaven above, or in Earth be- i who faepeft Covenant andMertywiththyfirvants^ afon n8 A COM MEN TART upon Chapter that walk, before thee with all their Hearts."] He acknow- VIII. ledges the tranfcendent Excellencies of the Divine tv^V^Vf Majefty ; And particularly again commemorates his Faithfulnefs to thofe who ferve him fincerely. Verfc 24. Ver. 24. Who haft kept with thyfervant David my Fa- ther, that thott promifedft him: thoufpakeft alfowith thy Mouth , and haft fulfilled it with thy hand, as it if this day."] This relates to that part of God's Promife to David, that his Son fhould build him an Houfe. See v. 15, 1 6, 8cc. Verfe 25". Ver. 25. Therefore now, LORD God of Ifrael, faty with thyfervant David my Father, that thon prorifedfl him, faying there JhaU not fail thee a Man in nty Sight toft on the Throne oflfrael.~] He looked upon that, as an Earneft, he would fulfil the other part of his Pro- mife to David, which he made at the fame time, con- cerning hisKindnefsto hisPofterity, 2 ?;. VI 1,12,13. So that thy Children take heed to their way, that they walk before me, as thoit haft walked before me.~\ He fpeaks like a wife Man, who was fully acquainted with the Mind of God : Whofe Promife concerning the Inheritance of the Kingdom, he acknowledges de- pended upon this Condition, if they tooJ^heed to their way, &c. That is, continued in the Faith and Wor- (hip of God, as David did. But if they proved Ido- laters, then they made themfelves unworthy of this Priviledge to be the Seed of David (as Abarbinel fpeaks) and loft the Inheritance of the Kingdom, be- caufe they were none of his Children. And therefore after Solomon and Jeroboam alfo turned away from God and followed Idols (as he goes on) God might juftly have taken the divided Kingdom away from their Children. And when all Jfrael forfook the LORD, and worshipped the God's of the Nations round about them he did forfake their Land, and would the Firft BoaJ^of KINGS. up would no Jonger dwell among them, nor continue Chapter the Kingdom to them. VIII. Ver. 26. And now, LORD God of Ifrael, let thy C^V%J word, I pray thee^ be verified , which then fpakffl unto Verfe 26. thy Servant David my Father.'] This is not an unne- ceifary Repetition 5 but (as Abarbinel notes) God when he fpake to David of building the Temple by his Son, promifed two things. Firft, the Stability of his Kingdom in his Family, iSam. VII. 16. and Secondly, that he would (how the greateft Kindnefs and Friend (hip to them 3 fuch as a Father doth to his Son, v. 13. Solomon here begs of God in this Prayer, both thefe Benefits : The firft in the foregoing Verfe, and the other in this. Ver. 27. But will God indeed dwell on the Earth . Ver. 32. Then hear thou in Heaven , and do, and Verfe 32. judge thy Servants ^ condemning the wicked to bring his way upon his Hsad^ and juflifying the righteous^ to give him according to his Righteoufnefs."} He defires God to hear the Complaint of him who was defrauded, or unjuftly accufed : And (how who had Right on his fide , by puniftiing the Offender, and acquitting the injured Perfon. Verfe 33. Ver. 33. When thy People Jfrael be fmitten down be- fore the Enemy , becaufe they have finned againft thee t and ftall turn again to thee^ and confefs thy Name."] Ac- knowledge him to be God alone, and renounce all falfe Gods. And pray and make Supplication to thee in this H0ufe.~] Or, toward this Houfe .- Expecting help from God alone. Verfe 24. Ver. 34. Then hear thou in Heaven , and forgive the Sin of thy People Ifrael : and bring them back^into the Land which thou gaveft unto their Fathers.~] Deliver them out of the Captivity, into which their Enemies had carried them $ and reftore them to their own- Country. The Jews think the SCHECHINAH was always in Captivity with them, and brought them forth from thence. Verfe 25. Ver. 35. When Heaven if flmt /r, and there is no Rain, becaufe they have Jinned againft thee.~} As God is faid to bring theWind (CXXXV. PfaL 7.) fo he doth the Rain out of his Treasures : Which when he (hut up, noShowers can fall, till he open them again. If they pray toward this place , and confefs thy Name^ and turn from their Sin, when thou affliftejl them.~] That had been the frequent Fruit of their Affliction in former Ages : Though as foon as God had delivered them the Firfl Book, of KINGS. f 33 *hem, they revolted from him 5 as we read in the Chapter whole Book of Judges. V\l\. Ver. 36. Then hear thou in Heaven, and forgive the \~s~\r**** Shi of thy Servants, and of thy People Ifrael : that thou Verfe 36. teach them the good way wherein they flwuld walk.~\ Thefe words are better tranflated in 2 Chron. VI. 27. (where the Hebrew words are the very fame with thefe here) When thou haft taught them the good way wherein theyfljould walk. He doth not defire their Pardon, till their AfHi&ion had taught them better Obedience. And give Rain upon thy Land, which thou haft given to thy People for an Inheritance."} He firft defires their Amendment, and then that the Times and Seafons might be amended. Ver. 37. If there be in the Land Famine."] Which Veric 37, arofe fometimes from other Caufes, befides Want of Rain. If there be Peftilence, Blafting, Mildew, Locuft, or if there be Caterpillar.] Thefe two Creatures, Locufis and Caterpillars made great Defolations where they fwarmed, X. Exod. 4, 5. CV. Pfalm 34, 55. Mil- dew alfo, the Heathens themfelves were icnfible was a Punilhment fent from Heaven. And therefore Nnma Powpn/ut (as Strigelitfs obferves) ordained a folemn Feftival called Rubigalia in the beginning of May, to pray for their Prefervation from this Rubigo as they called it, which corrupted their Corn. See Pliny his Ntt.Hift. Lib. XVIII. Cap. 29. If their Enemy befiege them in the Land of their Ci- ties.'] In their Gates : Whereby they were fo ftraitned, that none could go in, or out. Whatfover Plague, whatfoever Sicknefs there be.~] The word Plague, Cgnifies fome extraordinary Stroke by the Hand of God. R 2 Vcr.^S. 1 24 A CO M M E N Tyrf It r K/XW Chapter Ver. 38. What Prayer and Supplication [ijaU be made VIII. by a*y Man, or by all thy People IJrtelJ] Who in Natio- UrWJ nal Calamities were wont to befeech God's Mercies * Verfe 38. with publick Fafting and Prayer : Which if they neg- le&ed he intreats him not to reject the Supplications of any particular Perfon who befought his Favour for himfeif and Family. W bich {hall know every Man the Plague of hit own Heart.] We arc taught by Ezra in 2 Chron. VI. 2 9. to underftand thefe words of any private Trouble or Grief, which any Man laboured under : For fo the words are there, when every onefoall know hit own Sore, And his own Grief. That is, (hall make his Secret moan for any Affliction, which lies heavy upon his Spirit. And fpread forth hjf hands toward this Houfe."] That is, pray as Sibwon now did to God. See v. 22. Verfe 39. Ver. 39. Then hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling-place -, and forgive and do, and give to every Man according to his ways, whofe Heart thou knoweft."] He would have the People know that God could not be deceived with words : But have them expeft an Anfwer from him ; according to the Sincerity of their Hearts, in their Proftilions of Repentance. For thou, even thou only knoweft the Hearts of aO the Childrtn of Men.] This Senfe begets in Men the grea- teft Awe of the Divine Majefty. Verfe 40. Ver. 40. That they may fear thee all the dys that they live^ in the Land that thou gaveft unto our bathers.] That they might learn by his great Goodnefs, to wor- (hip him alone Religioufly all their Days: And by that means pcflefs in Peace and Plenty, the good fcand he had be flowed upon them. Vcr.4.1., the Firft Bool^of K I N G S. ,35 Ver. 41. Moreover concerning a Stranger that if not Chapter of thy People Ifrael^ but comet h out of a far Country^ far VIII. thy Names fak$.] To become a Profelyte to the true CXVVJ Religion and worfhip God alone, though he was not Verfe 41* circurncifed, and thereby bound to keep the whole Law. Such Strangers came to pray at the Temple, though they might not offer any Sacrifices, except on- ly a Burnt-offering. And therefore we may obferve, that in the New Teftament the Greeks are faid to come to a Feaft, iW TcofOHwfa&mvi that they might worlhip, not that they might keep the Paifover, XII. John 20. And the like is faid of the Eunuch, VIII. Aft. 22. See Selden, Lib. II. de Jure Nat. Sc Gent. Gap. IV. . and V. Ver. 42. For tlxyfh all hear of thy great Name, and of Verfe 42. thy ftrong Hand, and thy ftretched out Arm."] All the ftupendious Wonders he had done : Which declared him to be above all Gods $ the moft hfgh, and Holy When they foxlt corns, and pray torrard thtf plae.~] ' In the Court behind that of the Ifradites : Which was made on purpofe for the Religious uncircumcifed Gentiles. Such iauh VJtlorirttffStrJgtlitH (whofe words I think fit here to tranfcribe) were Naaman the Syrian^ Rkbttckadnez.'&ar, and his SunEvrttnerodach^ Darittt the Mede ^ Cyrttf the Per/tan ^ Cornelius, and the Ethiopian Eunuch mentioned in the Ads of the Apoftks^ and many fiich like Heathens : Who v/ere Members of the tue Church. By which means and by the Difperflon of the jfen?/ among other Nations, many Heathen were called to the Acknowledgment of the only true God. See Jtfepkw his laft Book of Antiqmtje^ Chap, the Second. Ver. 43. Hear thoH in Heaven thy dw&U'm^lace^ and Verfe ^\ 4* according to all that, th& Stranger caUeth to theefor^} He A COMMENT ART nfon Chapter He had the fame Senfe with St. Peter, that God is no VIII. RefpeSerrfPcrJotu, but in every Nation he that fear eth l^/VX^ God) and workfth Right eonfitefe, if accepted with few X. Aft. 35. That all the People of the Earth may know thy Nawe^ to fear thee, of do thy People Ifrael."] By this it is evi- dent that truly good Men in ancient time defired all the Gentile World might be incorporated with them .- Unto which in our Saviour's time the Jews were unac- countably averfc. And that they may know that this Honfe which I have builded, if called ly thy Name.] Hath thy Glorious Prefence in it. Verfe 44. Ver. 44. If thy People go out to battle agajnft their Enemy ^ whitherfoevertkou ftaltfend them 5 and pray un- to the LORD toward this City, which thou haft chofen, And, toward the Houfe that I have built for thy Name7\ Some of the Jews wonder that Solomon (hould mix his Prayer for Strangers, with thofe for the People of Ifrael : And not rather finim firft what he had to de- fire for the Ifraelites, and then pray for the Gen- tiles. If there be any thing in this, it was to (how that God made no difference between them, and pi- ous People of other Nations. It is here remarkable that they were not to make War without a Warrant and Commiffion from God, upon the Neighbouring Nations. Not to fatisfy their Ambition and Vain- glory 5 but by his Command, or upon juft and ne- cellary Reafons . Which would warrant them to im- plore and expect God's Blefiing upon their Arms. Vcrfe 45. Ver. 45. Then hear thou in Heaven their Prayer and Supplications^ and maintain their Caufe.~\ Show the Ju- ftice of it, by making them victorious. Ver. 46. the Firft Boo\ of K I N G S. 127 Ver. 46. If they fin againft thee (for there if no Man Chapter that finneth not) and thou be angry with them, and de- VIII. liver them to the Enemy."] The Weaknefs of Humane \*r\f*>s Nature, and its Pronefs to fin, doth not excufe wilful Verfe 46* Offences againft God $ efpecially Apoftacy from him, which was the Caufe of all their Calamities. So that they carry them away Captives Into the Land of the Enemy, far or near.] A good Caufe fometimes mifcarries, for the Iniquity of thofe that are ingaged in it. Ver. 47. Tet if they fl)ati bethink themfelves in the Verfe 47. Land whither they were carried captive, and repent , and make Supplication to thee in the Land of them that car- ried them Captives 5 faying, we have finned , we have done perverfly, we have committed Wickednefs. Ver. 48. And fo return to thee with all their heart , Verfe 4.8. and all their Soul, in the land of their Enemies, which have ledthem away Captive."] In thefe, and in the fore- going words, v. 47. he gives a full Defcription of true Repentance. Which begins in the ferious Refle&ion which Men make upon their paft Lives, and their pre- fent Miferies into which their Sins have brought them. Which begets an unfeigned Sorrow and Refolution of Amendment, with earneft Supplication for Mercy and Grace: Confeffing themfelves unworthy of if, and condemning themfelves for their Sins, and the high Aggravations of them (exprefled here by doing ferverjly, and committing Wickednefs) which at Jaft concludes in their quitting that wicked Courfe of Life, and their fincere Conversion to the Service of God. And pray unto thee toward the Land, which thott ga~ veft unto their Fathers, the City which thou haft chofen-, and the Houfe which 1 have built for thy Name.'] The very looking towards this Place, with earneft implo- ring A COMMENTARY upov Chapter ring the Mercy of God, and defire of his Helps, was VIII. to own him that dwelt here, and acknowledge him \VWI alone for their God. Which was a means (as that ex- cellent Perfon Dr. Ali-x admoniihes me) to keep them from Idolatry : All the Nations or" the World turning their Faces towards the Eaft, when they worfhipped 5 bat the jfeu?/ to the Weft, where the Holy Place was. And for this Caufe, when the Temple and the Holy 'City were deftroyed, and the Ark of the Teftimony was gone j yet good Men lookt and prayed toward the Place where it was wont to be \ as appears by the Prophet Daniel. And therefore Solomon much more fuppofes they would do fo, when they were all (rand- ing. Which may feem, as Mr. Mcde obferves, to have been done out of the life of all Minkind, without any fpecial Precept to that purpofe ^ which is no where to be found : Nature having taught Mankind, as in their Addrefles to great Perfons, to look unto their Face: So in their Addrefles to the Divine Majefty, to look that way, or toward that Place, where his Pre- fence is more demonftrated than elfe where. From whence he concludes, that to worlhip toward the Place, where there is any Sign or Specification of his Prefcnce, is no Idolatry. See his Difcourfe upon CXXXII. Pfal. 7. Verfe 49. Ver. 49. Then hear than their Prayer and Supplication in Heaven thy dwelling-place^ and maintain their Caufe."] In the Hebrew their Right , Which they had forfeited by their Difobedience 5 but he prayed they might be reftored unto, upon their Repentance. Vcrfe f(X Ver. 50. And forgive thy People that have finned a- gainft thte, and all their Tranfgreffion wherein they have tranfgrejjed againft thee : and give them Companion be- fore them that have carried them captive, that they may have Companion onthettt^] Treat them mercifully while they tht Firfi B*4 of KING S. they continued their Slaves $ and give them their Li' Chapter berty to return to their own Land. Solomon enlarges Vllf. much upon this in the following Verfes, as a thing CX"V\4 of the greateft Importance. Becaufe he knew that they as well as all Men elfe were prone to offend God (v, 46.) and might provoke him to expel them from this Land. Towards which, the Jews now at this Day turn their Faces, when they pray to God : But to no purpofe ^ for it only demonftrates they have fo provoked God by a Crime more heinous than ever was committed, that he will have no regard to their Petition. Ver. 51. For they be thy People, and thine Inheritance, Verfe 51. which thou brought eft out of Egypt, from the raid/I of the Furnace of Ironl} Wherein they wrought with cruel Labour. See IV. Deut. 20. Ver. 5 2, That thine Eyes may he open unto the Suppli- Verfe fx. cation of thy Servant, and ttnto the Supplication of thy People Ifrael, to hearken unto them in all that they ca.ll for unto thee.~] He brings two Arguments for the Di- vine Companion toward them. Firft, that he might not lofe the Glory of what he had formerly done for them : And then that it might appear he dwelt in this Houfe, and had refpeft unto the penitent Prayers that were here made to hitn. Ver. 5 g. For thou didft feparate them from a.U tie Peo* Verfe 5 3. pie of the Earth tff be thine Inheritance , as thou fpakfft ly the hand of Mofes thy Servant, when thou broughteft our Fathers out of Egypt, LORD our (W.] See XIX. Exod. 5. Here he adds a third Argument 5 the pecu- liar Laws that he had given them $ whereby they were diftinguifhed from all People : In the Obfervance of which he befeeches him to preferve them. It was not a mere Angel that brought them out of Egypt, but the Divine A. 15. But Mr. Selden hath' fhown by many Inftances that the word Mas is ufed not only for a Pecuniary Tribute: But for corporeal Labour. And thus he interprets thefe words, This fa the Caufe of requiring the Labour and Work, of fo many Men."] Which when he had declared, viz. his great Buildings : Then he proceeds v. 20. to relate, who they were that he employed in this Service, Lib. VI. de Jure Nat. &Gent. Cap. XIV. For to Mid the Houfe of the LORD, and hfr own Houfe."] Of which 5 an Account hath been already given. And Mil/o.~] Which was a large, and very beautiful^ Place (as Abarbinel takes it) near to Sion$ where the Ifraelites were wont to meet, and take their Pleafure . Andbecaufe it was///of People, was therefore cal- led Milfa.; which fignifies F/^/r v or Repletion. Now David I A COMMENTARY upon Chapter David had built round about Zion, from Millo in IX. ward (as we read 2 Saw. V. 9.) but had left the Stru- i^W> & ure of M/#0 it felf imperfect . Which Solomon now compleated 3 with a particular Refpeft to Pharaoh's Daughter, whofe Houfe was near to it, v. 24. of this Chapter. In this place fome think there was a ftrong Fortrefs built, which they gather from XI. 27. and 2 Chron. XXXII. 5. But others will have it to fignify that deep Valley or Ditch (it may be called) which was between Mount Sion (the City of David) and Mount Moriah^ on which the Temple ftood. There- fore that there might be a convenient Patfage from the King's Palace to the Houfe of God $ Solomon joyned thefe two Mountains, by a Bridge or a Caufe- way . Which could not be done without filling up the Valley, or making great Arches 3 fome think the one, and fome the other. And the Wall of Jerufalent.'} Which was a great Stru- &urc. For there were three Walls, one within ano- ther, as Abarbinel and Jofeph Ben Gorton explain it. The inner Wall compaffing the Houfe of God, and the Houfe of the King . The middle Wall, compaf- fing the Houfcs of the Prophets, and great Perfons (which explains, 2 Kings XXII. 14 ) and the third compared the Houfes of all the People. And Hazor.~\ Which had been a very eminent Ci- ty, and the Head of fome Kingdoms before the Con- queft of C*d<*, XI.J0/&. 10. and was given to the Tribe of Naphuli, XIX. Jofi. 36. And Megiddo."] A City in the Tribe of Manaffih, XVII.. n. AndGezer.] In the Tribe of Ephraiw, XXI. Jofh. 21. Verfe 1 6. Ver. 1 6. For Pharaoh King of Egypt k*d gone />, and taken Geaer, and burnt it with Fire, andjlain the the Firft Book, BRINGS. i

But only of burdenfome Labour. Of thefe were the feventy Thoufand that bare Burdens, and Eighty Thoufand that were Hewers in the Mountains; mentioned V. 15-. Thus Mr. Sclden, in the place above-mentioned, ex^ plains thefe words, they were not able utterly to de- ftroy : Which was not for want of Power, but be- caufe they had made a Covenant with them, and did not confume them (as it is in x Chron. VIII. 8.) But they would not receive them into Peace with them, till they became Profelytes of the Gate : And when had done fo, they became Tributaries 5 and U there- , 4 <5 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter therefore fuch Perfons by virtue of their Covenant, IX. Solomon now commanded to this Service. See Lib. VI. -x%^-v> de Jure Nat. & Gentium* Cap. XIV. Verfe 2X. Ver. 21. But of the Children of Ifrael did Solomon r/take no Bondmen.~] By this means he fpared the Chil- dren of Ifrael, whom he did not employ in any fer- vile Labours about his publick Works 5 but put them into nobler Offices, as it here follows. Yet this im- plies that his Royal Power might have laid fuch Loads on them, if he had not defigned to rule with great Gentlenefs over them. But they were Men ofWar.~] Which was accounted an honourable Employment. And were hif fervants.~] Officers in his Court. And hif Princes."] Governours of Provinces. And his Captains and Rulers of his Chariots, and his Horfemcn.~] Commanders of his Guards. Verfe 13. Ver. 23. And tbefe were the chief of the Officers that were over Solomons Work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the People that wrought in the Work^\ In theiChron. VIII. 10. they are faid to be but two hundred and fifty. For the Hebrew Doctors com- monly fay that there were of thefe Officers, but two hundred and fifty Ifraelites .* The other three hun- dred were Profelytes. But the plained Account of this is given by Alarbinel, that there were only two hundred and fifty fet over thofe that wrought in the Temple : The reft were employed in looking after his publick Works in other Places. And it muft be obferved alfo, that there were far greater Numbers employed when the Temple Work was carried on with great Speed, as we read before, V. \6. Yerfe 14, ^ er - 2 4- & H * Pharaoh's Daughter came up out of the City of David unto her Houfe which Solomon had built for her: then did he buildMiUo."] There was not the like neceffity the Firfl Book, of K I N G S. ,47 'neceffity for building Miffo, that there was for build- Chapter ing the Walls of Jerufalettt, and the Cities before- IX. named . But he did it (as Abarbmel obferves) in Ho- ^-^xr-^> nour, and for the Pleafure of Pharaoh's Daughter $ who was to remove unto an Houfe near to it. And the reafon (he did not continue in the Houfe where David had dwelt, we are told in the 2 Chron.VlM.u. which was, becaufe it was a kind of holy Place, where it was not tit for her to remain: The Ark of Cod having dwelt there. Ver. 2?. And three times in the year did Solomon Verfe 25-, offer Burnt-offerings ) and Peace-offerings upon the Altar^ vehich he built unto the LORD.] The meaning is not, that he offered Sacrifices no oftner^ but that he never failed to keep the three folemn Feftivals : Which God commanded to be obferved by every Body. When he offered Sacrifices fuitable to thofe great Mer- cies which were then commemorated $ and to the great Bleffings God had beftowed upon his Fa- mily. And he burnt Incenfe upon the Altar that was before theLORD.~] In the holy Place, before the Oracle. Where he could not burn it himfelf $ but he gave it to the Priefts at his own Charge, to be offered with a particular Refpcft to him. This it is likely he did every Day, Morning and Evening. So hefnijbed the Ho*fe,~] This was faid before 5 but now repeated, becaufe after he had kept the three great Feftivals there, it was not only confecrated, but all Divine Offices had been performed in it : And there was nothing more to be added, Ver. 26. And King Solomon made a Navy of Ships Verfe 26. in Ezion-geber.~] This Name E&on -getter fignifies Spiaa Viri : It lying in a rocky ragged Shore, running out into the Sea like the Backbone of a, Man. So ArUnvt U a (as 148 A COMMENTARY *pon Chapter (as Eochartm obferves) in his Periplw defcribes the IX. moft part of the Sinu* Arabics ("where Ezion-geker layj as very dangerous becaufe of the Rocks and Shelves. Which makes it lefs ftrange, that the Ships of Jehofhaphat were broken there in pieces, in the ve- ry Port, before they put out to Sea, i Kings XXII. 48. Infomuch that in after-times this Port was for- faken 3 and they frequented Elath. Jofiphw will have Ezion-geber to be the fame with Berenice, a City on the African Shore, over againft Syene 5 others have different Conjectures 5 when the Scripture plainly teaches us that it was a Port of Idumv dfcfoaAjar, the Red-fea: The word Edom (ignifying Rubrnwor Rufum Red, or Yellow, as&wfortarand Ludolphw have obferred* Ver. 27. And Hiram fent in the Navy hit fervants ,Vcrfe Ship- men that had Knowledge of the Sea, with thefer- vants of Solor/wn7\ The Navy was Solomons, who had Servants of his own on board the Ships, to go and traffique at Ophir : But they had no Skill in Naviga* tion, and therefore Hiram fent as many Tynans as were neceflary to Man the Ships: They having been always bred at Sea, Ver. 28. And they came to Ophir^] It is certain there Vcrfe was-a Place called Ophir, or as the LXX. call it ooftf (which word Jofephw alfo ufesinftead ofOpkir) and by others called 'Op$ta>, which was in Arabia Falix. But this cannot be the Place here meant, as Eoehartus hath demonftrated by many Arguments in his Phaleg. Lib. 2. Cap. XXVII. This one is fuffident, that it was a three Years Voyage to bphir here mentioned $ whereas the other was very near the Place where the Navy was prepared. And befides, they fetched Ivory from Of&ir, whereas there are no Elephants in Arabian There.- & 'CO MM EN TART *p * s not f ea fy to b e determined. The Famous .Bochartus thinks it was Taprobana } which is the fame with that now called Zeilan or Seilan. For what the Ancients fay of Taprobana^ that the Moderns fay of Zeilan: As he hath mown in a very large Diagram of both Countries . In his Canaan, Lib. I. Cap. XL VI. And indeed Grotiuf before him concluded, there was no better way to gueis where this Place was, than by considering what Commodities were brought from thence/ And inquiring of Merchants (who have been in the remote Parts of the World) where not only Gold, and Silver, and precious Stones, but Ivo- Ty, and all the reft that were fetcht from Ophir, are to be found now. And in a Letter to his Brother, Tie defires him to make this Enquiry for him. See Epiftol. 485. And fet from thence Gold four hundred and twenty Talents.*] It is faid in iChron. VIII. 1 8. that they brought four Hundred-*and fifty : But we may well fuppofe that thirty Talents might be fpent in the Charges of the Voyage to and fro ; fo that only four hundred and thirty came into Solomons Coffers. Or, rather as Abarbinel thinks, Solomon gave the Servants offiram, who managed the Ships, thirty Talents for A Gratuity. Or as Laniado (who delights to contra- dt& Abarbinel) the JemfaUm Talent was bigger than that of Ophir: So that four hundred and fifty Ophir Talents made but four hundred and twenty Jernfalem Talents. It is eafy alfo to fay, that there came of Gold refined only four hundred and twenty into So- lomons Treafury : Though the whole Mafs was four hundred and fifty. And tie Firft Bool^ of KING S. 15 f And brought it to King SolomonI} It is no improba- Chapter ble Conjecture of Abarbind^ that Solomon at firft tra- IX. fiqu'd in the Ships of Hirtm 5 which Voyage brought him for his Share the hundred and twenty Talents mentioned, v. 14. of this Chapter: Which Hiram i faid to have Tent to him, as the Profit (that is) of his Adventure. Which was fo great that Solomon refol- ved to build a Navy of his own: At which Biratn was fo far from being offended, that like a true Friend he furnifhed him with Manners to manage the Ships: And they brought him this great Quantity of Gold at their return from their firft Voyage. The Imperial Laws forbid Noble Men to exercife Merchandize as a thing below them : And therefore it much lefs becomes a King, as Bodinus difcou-rfes, Lib. Vr. de Republ. Cap. 2. But we muft not meafure An* tiquity by our own times : And that Author well adds, that though he would not have Kings now to be Merchants, yet if he might have his Choice, Mer- catorem turn malo quam tjr annum ; &C. I had rather a Prince (hould be Merchant than a Tyrant: And No- ble Men fhould rather trade, than opprefs and make a Prey of their Tenants. ^ u A n Chapterr C H A. P. X.. L/"V"\J "t Vrfe I. \ND when the gueen ofShebaT] JdfephttfV&fe , I J\,. thinks (he was Queen of Merae, which was andently called Sala. But a great many of his Gountry-men more rightly underftand this Matter: Who fay (he came from Aljemin :. Which was the South part of .Arabia .Fdix, near the Red Sea 5. And 1 5* A C MM EN TART upon Chapter fo our Saviour calls her the gucen of the South, which X. is the Signification of Jemin in Hebrew 5 and in Ara- LXWI buk. with the Addition of Al is called Aljemin. Heard of the Fattte of Solomon concerning the Name of the LORD."] Theedoret thinks (he was a Religious Wo- man, as far as the Light of Nature guided her } And if we may believe the Hebrew Tradition, (he had fome Tin&ureof revealed Religion from her pious Ance- ftors : For they think (he was defcended from Abra- ham by Ketttrah : One of whofe Sons begat Sheba, \Ckron. 1. 32. Now (he came to hear of Solomons Fame by the Ships that went to Ophir; For they (ailed by her Coaft, and in all likelihood fpread his Fame there ; as they did in all other places where they touched : Proclaiming his Magnificence, and efpe- cially his Wifdom, and his Glorious Temple which he had built, for the Wormip of his God. Whofe Praife they fet forth, as far above all Gods. She came to prove him with hard ^ueflions^ T0 try whether he was fo wife as Report made him : By pro- pounding a difficult Queftion to him, which none but a Man divinely illuminated could refolve $ as Abarbinel under (rands it. Vcrfe 2. Ver. 2. Andflje came to Jerufalem.~] The Fable of Agatharcides is confuted by this, who faith the Royal Dignity among the Sab*ns was but a kind of Capti- vity. For after the Inauguration of their King, it was forbid, by an ancient Oracle, that he (hould ftir out of his Palace upon pain of Stoning. But there lie enjoyed himfelfinall manner of PleaCure. With a very great Train.] Royally attended. And with Camels that bare Spices, and very much Cold, and precious Stones."} Thefe Prefents which (he brought to Solomon are a great Argument, (he Came from Arabia F&lix: Which abounded with fuch things; tbeFirJl Bw^ of K I N G S. 153 things 5 but none of them are in Meroe. Nor can Chapter Meroe be faid to be the ends of the Earth 5 from X. whence our Saviour faith this Queen came : There U^VNJ being many large Countries in Africa beyond Meroe 5 but none beyond the Sabteans in Arabia^ whofe Coun- try lay upon the Sea. See Bochartw in his Phaleg. Lib. 2. Cap. XX VI. Where he (hows they abounded in Gold, having fach Plenty of it from Opfar ^ that they exchanged it for Brafs and Iron, &r. giving double, or thrice the Weight of them. And yet the Abyffin Chrifrians (who fay her Name was Marqvcda) are very confident (be came from iheir Country : Where it is as conftant a Tradition that Hie had a Son by Solomon ^ from whom their Kings are derived. So Lttdolghtt* obferves in his Notes upon the ConfefBon ofCIattdiw King of Ethiopia: Where he faith, this was the Faith of his Father the Ifraditifl) Khg. And when /he was come to Solomon foe communed with him, of til that was In her Heart~] Had the Liberty to propound whatfoever (hedefired to be refolved about : Either in Natural, I fuppofe, or Divine things. Ver. 3. And Solomon told her all her gHeftions.'] That Verfe 3. is, anfwered them to her Satisfaction. There was not any thing hid from the King, which he told her not."] There was nothing fo fecret, which he did not reveal to her. Ver. 4. And when the >#CCH of Sheba had feen att Verfe 4. Solomons Wifdom.~] Had fully difcovered the wonder- ful Variety of Wifdom wherewith he was endowed. And the Houfe which he had built."] Both for God and for himfelf : The Magnificence of which was ad- mirable. Ver. 5. And the Meat of his Table.'] Where it is Verfe 5. likely (he was entertained while (he (layed at Jertt- faleat. X And A COMMENTARY Chapter And the fitting of hjs Servants."] At their Table. X. And the Attendance of his Minifters.'} Who waited on him at his Table, and in his Chamber, and other Places. And their Apparel."] Which was different, I fuppofe, according to their feveral Offices 5 but all very (lately. And his Cup bearers.'] Who filled out his Wine, and brought, and delivered it to him : With fuch Cere- mony as made his Grandeur appear in that fmali thing. And his afcent, ly which he went Hp to the Houfe of the LOR D.~] From his own Palace .- Of which L 9 Empereur gives an account, upon Codex Middoth. p. 50. But the ancient Interpreters underftand by the word Olatho not hit Afcent : But his Burnt-offering,, which he offered in the Houfe of the LORD. And it is very likely^ (he faw the Service of God's Mini- fters in his Houfe, as well as Solomons in his own Houfe: And was made by Solomon to underftand the meaning of every thing that was done there. Which muft needs put her into an Ecftafy of Admiration, as it here follows. And thus the LXX. tranflate thefe words ;, rlw 5 Ao^&Taxny etW Iw av iytgw &v tural things : So he was no lefs skilful in Political Government.- And tranfcended in the Knowledge of Divine Matters, as his; Books (how us^ having all things like wife in fuch order both in his Houfe, and every where elfe, that it was amazing. A very great our awn obferves, that fuch things as thefe % the. the F/V/i Book, of K 1 N G & 1 5 $ the Apparel, the fitting and Attendance of his Ser- Chapter vants, were juftly admired by her as an Indication of X. Solomons Wifdom, For they are the Outworks which >"-v^- 'preferve Majefty it f elf from Approaches and Snrprfaals. And whatfoever Prince departs from thefe Forms and Trappings and Ornaments of his Dignity and Prehemi- 'nence^ will hardly be able y at fome time^ to preferve the Body it felf of Majefty from Intrufon^ Invajion and Vio- lation. Ver. 6. And foe f aid unto the King."} When (he had Verfe 6. recovered her {elf, out of her AftoniQiment. It was a true report that 1 heard in my own Country^ of thy Atfs, and of thy Wifdom."] They did not deceive her, who by their Reports of him, moved her to take this long Journey. Ver. 7. Howhit^ I believed not the words , tilllcam^ Verfe 7. and mint Eyes had feen it .~] She thought they might magnify things too much, as Travellers are wont to . do : Especially when they fpeak of their own Coun- try. And behold the half was not told me : thy Wifdom and Profperity exceedeth the fame which I heard."] This was very extraordinary : For commonly Men find things fall far fhort of their Expectations. Ver. 8. Happy are thy Men."] His Subjeds. Vcrfe ft, And happy are thefe thy Servants, which ftand conti- nually before thee^ and hear thy Wifdom."] Efpectally thofe that were about his Perfon, and miniftred unto him who had opportunity every day to hear his wife Sayings and Difcourfes. Ver. 9. EleJJedbe tie LORD tty God.'] One would Verfe 9* think by this that (he became a Profely te, before (he re- turned to her own Country : Whether fhe carried bet- ter things than (he prefented to Solomon (which the next Verfes mention) theTreafures of Heavenly Wif- X 2 doim 156 A COM MENT4RY upon Chapter dom. Philoftorglvf indeed faith, that in his rime the X. Salmans facrificed to the Sun and Moon, and certain L/WJ Daemons of their own Country .- And yet c TrcgJTo- (juw TO e3x^,, &c. the Nation was circumcifed after the Jervijh manner on the Eighth Day. Which Rite they received, one would think from this Queen, and retained it a long time, though they continued their old Superftition. Ft is poflible indeed that the Jews who lived among them, might perfwade them to it. For the fame Philoftorgius faith, * o?Jyw TdtiSQ, I- Sbt/W atrfoTs aW-Tiip^atf, no fmall Number of Jews was mingled with them. Which delighted in thee to fet thee on the Throne of ffrael, becaufe the LORD loved Ijraelfor ever ; There- fore made he thee King, to do Judgment and Jnflice."] Amoft excellent Admonition both to the People, and to the King : That they fhould think themfelves highly obliged to God, who had given them fuch a King: And he (hould think God made him King to govern his People juftly. This Senfe the wife Hea- then had, that Governours were fet over Men by God, for their good : As Ariftolle told Alexander in a Let- ter to him, wherein he exhorts him to keep in mind, that his Kingdom was given him by God for the fake of Mankind, k^jfttoftim&. a TT#; Zfczjiv, that he might do them good, and not abufe them. Verfe IO. Ver. io. Andfbe gave the King an hundred and twenty Talents of Gold.] Though we do not find that the Ancients fpeak of any Mines of Gold in the Sa- b ai theft, which the Queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon."] For it feems the Jews maintained no Trade with this Country. Ver. ii. And the Navy alfo of Hiram that brought Verfe II Gold from Ophir.~] This is meant of Ophir in India, mentioned IX. 28. From which Hiram's Navy is faid to bring Gold, though the Ships were Solomons^ ht~ caufe Hira^s Servants had the Management of them. Brought in from Ophir gre^at plenty of Almug- trees, and precious Stones."] It is very uncertain what.thefe Almug, or Algum Trees were (as they are called^ by a Tranfpofition of Letters in i'Chron.\\. 8.) our famous- Dr. CafteS'tiut&s it was the Wood called San&ulum : Which is proper for all the ufes mentioned in the next Verfe, and is ftill in India. And R. D. Kimcht upon that Place in the .Chronicles' faith it was a red Wood whkh is now called Brezil. By which cannpt be meant the Wood that comes from Brazil, for that Country was not known in his days :- But c probably he calls it Brezil from the Hebrew-word Barzel, , which fignifies Iron": It being of fuch a dark Colour. And fuch a Wood there is now, in the Kingdam. of ,58 A COMMENTARY up* Chapter & Gottffet obferves out of Jhevet, and other Authors, X. in his Comment. Lingua Hebr. Ver. 12. And the King made of the Almug- trees , 12. Pillars for tie Houfe of the LORD y and for hit own Honfe."] Or rather rails (as we tranflate it in the 'Margin of cur Bibles) which were made on either f fide the Caufey which went up from the King's Houfe ;to the Houfe of the L O El D. Compare this with 1 Chron. XXVI. 16, 18. and 2 Ckrott. IX. n. and fee Dr. Lightfoot of the Temple, p. 125. where he only ^quotes Ralbag . Who faith he made Battlements, i.e. rails on either fide, that Men by them might ftay fhemfelves, as they went along the high way of that -Afcent. Harps alfo and Pfalteries fir Singers, there came no fach Almug-trees nor tverefeen unto this day.~\ This Ac- count of Almug Trees is mixed with the Story of the 'Queen of Sheba, becaufe (he is faid, v. 5. to have ad- mired the Afcent (as we tranflate it) which Solomon made to the Houfe of the LOUD. Which appeared the more Magnificent, becaufe the Rails thereof were made of this rare Wood. Which Abarbinel fancies was Cora^ which grows in the very Sea : And they had never feen before 5 nor did any come after. 13. Ver. 13. And King Solomon gave unto the >tteen of Sheba all her defire, whttfoever /he askgd : befide that which Solomon gave her of hff Royal Bounty. ~\ By their mutual Prefents, which Che made to him (v. 10.) and he at her Departure made to her 3 they teftified their Friend (hip to each other: Dcfiring by thefe to be remembred. And Solomon defircd to know what would be moft acceptable to her, among all the Ra- rities (he had feen, which he be fto wed upon her: Befides generoufly added more things of Value, which it is likely (he had not in her own Country. Fir ft Bool^ of K I N G S. So fie turned^ and went to her own Country ', flw and Chapter her Servants."} Accompanied it is probable with many X. of the Ifraelttes^ who went and planted themfelves wv*^^ there : From whom fprung thofe Jews, who Philo* ftorgitu faith, were mixed with the Sabtans in no fmall Numbers, as I obferved, v. 9. But the Jews of whom he fpeaks, were fuch as fetled there after the Jaft Captivity/ And it was not lawful for a Jew while the Temple ftood to fettle in a Place, from- whence he could not come three times a Year to wor^ (hip at Jerttfalem. Ver. 14. AW the Weight of Gold which came to Sa- Verfe 1-4*.. lomon in one Year, was fix hundred, threescore and fx Talents of Gold.] The Hiftory of the Queen of -Shi* being ended, he returns to give an Account of Solo* mon$ Riches, and Magnificence 5 which he had be* gun to fet forth before. And firft he rebates what a vaft Quantity of Gold was brought into his Country every Year.- Not only from Ophir ^ but from other Countries, unto which perhaps the Queen of Sheba, opened him a Paflage. Ver. 15- Bejfdes that he had. of the Merchant- menl^ Verfe Who paid Cuftom for the Goods they brought from feveral Countries: Or., as -Abarblnel thinks, the Men of Hattarim (as the words are -in the Hebrew) fignify a certain Nation, viz. the Tartan (as they are now galled) who brought Commodities from the North Country to the People of Jfrael^ as others did froms- the South. And of the Traffique of the Spice Merchant s.~\ There - is no reafon thus to tranflate thefe words, as the fame :- Author thinks : But they fignify in general all forts > of Traders, who- brought in Merchandize, by Sea or 7 Land,, i6o A COMMENT ART *fon Chapter And of all the Kings. of Arabia."] Who fent him Pre- X. fents. V^W>I And of the Governours of the Countries."] Which Da- vid, or he had conquered , and placed Governours there .- Who gathered his Tribute, and fent it to him every Year. Verfe 16. Ver. 16. And King Solomon made two hundred Tar- gets of beaten Gold^ fix hundred Shekels of Gold went to one Target. Verfe 17. Ver. 17. And he wade three hnndred Shields of beat- en Gold $ three pound of Gold went to every Shield^] Thefe Targets and Shields feem to have been made for State, and Pomp : To be carried before him, up- on fome fpecial Occafions. Though we do read in the Roman Authors of fome great Captains to whom Golden Shields were granted, as a Reward of their great Valour : And thefe perhaps might be intended for the fame purpofe. But then we muft not think that the Shields weighed but fix hundred Shekels (which would have been fo fmall as to be of no ufe) but that each coft fix hundred Shekels of Gold ^ as Fort. Scacchus obferves, Myrothec. III. Cap. 3. And the King put them in the Houfe of the Foreft of Lebanon."] Where it is likely he kept his moft precious Treafure. See concerning this Houfe, VII. 2. which Jofephw faith the Queen of Sheba admired above all things (he faw in *}udv^> a Golden Vine (and other Trees of Gold) the Bun- ches of whofe Grapes, were made of feveral forts of precious Stones. Verfe 2 1 . ^ er> 1 1 ' ^ n ^ a ^ K* n & Solomons drinking Veffels ' were of Gold: And aU the Vejfels of the Hotffe of the Fo- re ft of Lebanon were of pure Gold. None were of Silver; it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon^] Who brought in fuch Plenty of Gold 5 that it made Silver to be of lefs Value, while he lived. Verfe It. Ver. 22. For the King had at Sea a Navy ofTarJhijh, with the Navy of Hiram.'] Thefe words are added to give a further Account how Solomon came to have Gold in fuch abundance. For he trafiqued for it, in another Fleet, befides that which went to Ophir. That Fleet, it is plain, was Solomons, and failed out of his own Port Ezfon-geber, IX. ^6. though it was manned by Tyrians, becaufe they underftood the Sea* Whereas this Navy here fpoken of belonged to Hiram> and went out of his Port at Tyre: And Solomon had only the Liberty to trade in it to Tarfljjfi. Which was a Place, wherewith the Tyrians had very ancient Com- merce : And therefore Hiram was the chief in this Voyage, as Solomon was in that to Ophir. Qtice in three Tears came the Navy ofTarfiiflj, bring- ing Gold and Silver.'] It was not fo far off, that they could not return in lefs than three Years : But as Alar- iinel fuppofes, they went thither in the end of one Year 5 and ftayed there the next to vend and to buy their Commodities : And then returned in the begin- ning of the third Year. Bochartuf hath made it very probable that this r3lace wzsTarteflvf in Spain, where Gold and Silver in ancient times, if we may believe and others whom he quotes, was plentiful. But the Ftrfl Boo\ of K I N G S, But I do not find any Proof that Ivory, Apes and Chapter Peacocks were the Commodities of that Country. See x his Phateg. Lib. III. Cap. VII. wv"^- And IvoryJ] The Hebrew word Senhalim b of doubtful Signification. But the word Sen, or Shen certainly fignifying a Tooth, Interpreters have fuppo- fed that habiw fignifies an Elephant : And both toge- ther import Elephants Teeth, i.e- Ivory. But it is hard to give an Account of this word habit : Therefore Bochartvf rather thinks that the whole word Senhabim fignifies an Elephant : Which beft agrees with what follows, Apes and Peacock?? all three fignifying li- ving Creatures : And indeed Ivory it felf in this Chap- ter, is fimply called by the Name of Sen ; Where he fpeaks of Solomons Throne, v. 18. See bis Hierozoicon, P. 3. Lib. I. Cap. XX. And Apes."] The Hebrew word Kephim is both by the Ancients and Moderns translated Apes: Which Creature Pliny calls Cephos And faith they were feen but once at Rome in his days, and that they came out of Ethiopia. So that if Tarfoijh was in Spa!*, they that failed thither traffiqued in Africk alfo before they came home. See Bockarttff in his Hierozoicon. P. II. Lib- Ill. Cap. XXXI. And Peacock*."] The LXX. 4o not adventure to tranflate tUe Hebrew word Thnccijim. But the Chal- dee, Syriack.-) Arabic^ and Lutine, tranflate it as we do, Peacocks And fo do the moft Learned among the Jews^ as Bochartvs (hows in a long DiiFertation : Where he probably guefles this Creature had its Name by a fmall Tranfpofition of Letters from Cttthajitn : As much as to fay a Bird of Cnth^ or a Perjian Bird. Which Tranfpofitions are fo ufual, that we have an Inftance of it in this Chapter: The Trees here called Alsumittt* being called in the Chronicles Alsumim. See Y i Hiero- A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Hierozoicon. P. I, L. 2. Cap. XXIII. where he (hows X. how beautiful a Creature this is 5 which might well L/*V"\J be brought from Foreign Countries to Judaea, where there were none of them. Verfe z$i Ver. 23. So King Solomon exceeded all the Kings of the Earth for Riches and for Wifdom.'] The latter of which he begged of God : Who gracioufly promifed to add the former ; which he did to Admiration. Verfe 14. Ver. 24. And all the Earth fought to Solomon to hear his Wifdom^ w/rfch God had put in his hearth] That is, the great Men of the neighbouring Countries, came, as the Queen of Sheba did, to be acquainted with his Wifdom 5 which they heard was a Divine Gift. 2. Ver. 25; And 'they brought every Man hfr Prefeht, VeffelsofSilter, andVeJJels ofGold, and Garments^ and Armour, and Spices^ Horfes and Mules.~] This (hows that he fpeaks in the former Verfe, of the great Men of the Earth : Who made thefe Prefents to him, when they came into his Country. A rate Tear by Tear?] This feems to fignify that they fo highly prized his Wifdom, that they courted his Friend(hip: And voluntarily fent him a certain Pne- fent every Year, as a Token of the Continuance of it. x& Ver. 26. And Solomon gathered together Chariots and Borfemen."] In a time of profound Peace, he thought it a piece of Wifdom to be ready for War, as a means to preferve the Peace. Though the fnreft way to en- oy theHappinefs wherein he lived, had been to ob* ferve ftriclly the Commands of God. And he had a thoufand and four hundred Chariots^ and twelve thoufand Horfewen.] Four hundred of thefe Chariots, Jbfiphw faith, were prefented from the ings and Princes before-mentioned .- And he had a thoafand . of his own before. But what need was rfi* Fir ft 800% of KIN G Sf there for fo many Stables for his Horfes as feem to be Chapter mentioned IV. 26. viz. forty thoufand > The word is X. not Stables, but Stalls : Every Horfe having a Stall, U*V\J not a Stable to himfelf/ And fome Chariots had two, fome four Horfes belonging to them. And yet even thus there were too many : Therefore we muft fupr pofe they did not always ftand in one place \ but fometimes in one Country, fometimes in another. Where it was neceflary there fliould be Stalk for them, when he removed from City to City* Whom he beftowed in the Cities for Chariots^ and with the King at Jerufalemi] The former part of thefe words relate to the Chariots, which were kept in the Country > in the Cities Solomon built for them, IX. i^, and the latter to the Horfemen* which were always with the King in Jerufalem; as Abarbinel underftands thefe words. Thus Solomon took care they mould not be burdenfome to his People, by keeping them all in one Place : -But they were diftributed through the Country, onely a great Body of Horfe in the Royal City, " Ver. 27. .And the King made Silver to be ztrjerafa- Verfe %J. iem as Stones."] As common as Pebles. And Cedars made he to be as the Sycamore Trees j&hich are in the Vale in abundance."] Ordinary things, like Willows 'that among us grow- nurneroufly in- low Grounds. * Ver. 28. And Kivg Solomon had H&rfes brought out thefe, and the following words in the next Verfe, are very oblcure. Verfe 29. Ver. 29. And a. Chariot came up, and went out ofE- gyptforjix hundred Shekels of Silver, and an Horjefor an hundred and fifty : and Jo for all the Kings of the Hittites, and the Kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their Means.] Thefe words Eochartitt feems to me to have cleared with the greateft Perfpicuity, by taking the Hebrew word Mikpeh, not for Linnen Yarn, or fine Linnen $ but for the Toll or Cuftom that was taken for the Horfes that were brought out of Egypt. And thus he tranflates the whole 3 Horfes were brought up to Solomon out of Egypt } and as for the Toll orCuftome^ the Merchants of King Solomon hired it at a Price (that is, redeemed it of the King of Egypt for fo much con- Itantly) and a Chariot coming out of Egypt went out for fix hundred Shekels of Silver , and an Hvrfefor an hun- dred and fifty $ and fa to all the Kings of the Hittites, and for the King of Syria did they bring by their hands, The Senfe of which words is plainly this, that noble Horfes being found in thofe times, in few Countries but Egypt, Pharaoh would not fuffer them to be car- ried from thence without a great Tribute, which he exacted for them .- Which was fix hundred Shekels for a Chariot, and a hundred and fifty for a Horfe. This muft not be underftood to be the Price at which they were bought $ but the Cuftom paid for them : Otherwife every Horfe would have been of the fame Value, which is abfurd. Solomon therefore bringing many thoufand Horfes out of Egypt, prevailed with his Father-in-Law to free him from this grievous Tribute, and to accept of a certain Sum of Money to be paid him every Year inftead of it. Thus being freed rrom the Pirfi Book of KIN G'. theCuftome, which was demanded of others: All Chapter the Rings of the Hittites and Syrians bought their X. Chariots and Horfes of Solomons Merchants, who could afford to fell them cheaper, than they could have them in Egypt- See Hierozoicon^P.ll Lib. II; Gap. IX. By the Kings of the Hittites are meant the Rulers of fome of that Nation 4 who were driven out by the Israelites 5 and lived in the North-Eaft of the Land of Canaan, or in fome part of Arabia. Seel. Judges 26. Chapterr CHAP. XL XL Verfe i. \ND King Solomon loved many ftrange Verfe ,L\ Women, together with the Daughter of Pharaoh."] It was not a Fault in him that he married Pharaoh's Daughter 5 (he being a Profelyte, as is ge- nerally fuppofed, to the JewiJ!) Religion. But in marrying fo many other Women befides, he commit- ted two Sins againft the Law: One in multiplying Wives 5 and another in marrying thofe of ftrange Nations, who ftill retained their Idolatrous Religion : Which was exprefly againft their Law, as the next Verfe declares it. The Jewtfh Doctors indeed are fo very defirous to>excufe Solomon, that they fay thefe ftrange Women were profelyted : But Mr. Selden* well obferves, that then it had been no fin to have married with fome of them .- And yet Nehemiah fays it was a Sin, XIII. 26. Lib. V. de Jure Nat. & Gen, Gap. XV. p. 625:, 626. And ,Bttxtorf. de Sponfal. & Divert, p. 40, 41. Women* rfft A CO M M E N T A R T upon Chapter Women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites t Zi- XI. donians, and ninitet.j^ Some think Solomon would i/"V"NJ not have taken Wives out of thefe Nations, had it not been out of fome political Principle: Which fome think was that he might by their means gain Intelli- gence of the State of thofe Countries: Others, that he might extinguifh the Old Enmity, which was be- tween the Israelites and thofe Nations } to which he might probably hope to put an End, by contra&ing fhefe Marriages with them. But good Intentions, will not juftify the doing unlawful things. *Verfe a. Ver. 2. Of the Nations concerning which the LORD faid unto the Children of Ifrael, ye fljall not go in to them, neither fhdU they come in unto you } for furely they will turn arc ay your Heart after their Gods.~] This relate particularly to the fJittites and the Zidonians before- mentioned $ and confequently the reft of the feven Nations of Canaan, with whom they were forbidden to make any Marriage (XXXIV.E*^. 16. \\}.Deut. 3.) for the weighty Reafon here mentioned. For though they might marry Wives of other Nations, if they embraced the Jewijh Religion : Yet of the feven Nations of Canaan they might not } though they were converted to their Religion. Left the Venom might lurk and lie hid 5 and at lad break out, and infect them. Great was the Forefight of Mofes, (wherewith God endowed him ) in giving this Precept fas Qrotivs notes^) for the not obferving it, undid the Ifraelites^ and was the Foundation of their utter Ruin. Solomon clave unto thefe in love^\ He not only mar- ried them} but had a great Affection to them : Where- by his Heart was eafily alienated from Cod. |. Ver. 3. And he had feven hundred Wives, Princejjes ^ and three hundred Concubines.^ Of thefe Princefles, few or none had the Name of Queens, as Abarbinel obferves 5 the Firft Boo\ of KINGS. obferves} but they only who were of higheftEfteem Chapter with him, or who were of Royal Extraction. He XI. thinks, Solomon enjoyed every one of thefe once^ aiid v^v^> then (hut them up, that no Body might touch them afterward. See Buxtorf. cte Sponfal. & Divert, p. 48, 49. and Hackfpan's Mifcellanies, Lib. I. Cap. 6. But it teems to me more probable, that he kept fo many Wives merely for State and Pomp ^ after the manner of the Eaftern Princes : But never ufed many of them. Juft as they do now in China, where the Emperour hath a great Multitude of Wives, chofen out of the prime Beauties of the Country: Many of which he ne- ver faw in his Life 5 as Father la Compte tells us in his Hiftory of China, P.I. pag. 62. The fame is faid of the great Mogul, that he hath as many Women as will make up a fall Thoufand (which is Solomons Num- ber) as the Author of the Voyage to the Indies tells us, in the end of P. le Falle his Hiftory, Se&. 20. p. 469. It muft be considered alfo that Solomon had not brought them to this Number in the beginning of his Reign, but toward the latter end : When his Ri- ches increasing, he made vaft Expences, and ftudied to out-do all other Kings, in Magnificence of all kinds. And his Wives turned away his heart."] He was fo delighted in their Company, that they turned away his Thoughts from ferious Bufinefs $ yea, from God 'himfelf. 8 y Ver. 4. For it came to pafs when Solomon wasold, that Vcrfc 4.' his Wives turned away his Heart after other Gods."] For indulging himfelf too much in Pleafure, he weakned both his Body and his Mind : And growing old be- time, began to dote upon other Gods j which he fuf- fered his Wives to worthip privately, and at laft open- -ly to excrcife the religious Rites of their own Country. Z And t;o A COMMENTARY upon Chapter And bfr keart was not ferfe& with the LORjy h% XI. God, as was* the heart of David hte Father."] He did not L/"V"NJ forfake the LORD, but joyned other Gods with him. Which a Man of his Senfe could never have done (who had folemnfy acknowledged in his Prayer, that th? re was no God like to the LORD, yea, that there was no God elfe, VIII. 13. 60.) if Ms Mind had not been enervated, and his Underftanding darkned by fenfual Pleafures. Verfe 5* Ver. 5. An J Solomon* went after Afktoreth the Goddefs gfthe Ztdonians.'] He worfhipped Aftartt, of which fee in the Book of Jttdgej, IK 15. and i Sam. VII. 4- And after Mihom the Abomination of 'the Ammonites. ,] This God was the fame with Moloch 5 whom he calls an Abomination, becaufe high-ty detefted by God: Who had gtven them a particular Caution againft worshipping theHoft of Heaverr, W.Dent. 19.. Now Moloch fignifies the Prince of that Hoft, as I may call if, the Sue : The King of Heaven, as the Moon was caHed the Queen : In this all agree that Moloch comes from Mekch^ which in the He&rew Language fignifie? a King, a-nd rs of the fame Import with Baal 'and Ado- nis (which fignify Lord} which were worfh'ipped by many Nations, as Motbck was .- Wha was not the pecufiar God of the Ammonites 5 but the God whom meyprincipally wormipped. Verfe 6. Ver. 6. And Solomon did evil in the Sight of the LORD\ and went not frfy after the LORD at David his Father did.~] And yet Abarbind thinks he did not commit Idolatry by offering Sacrifices to thefe felfe Gods : But was only perfwaded by his Wives fo far as- to learn the manner after which they wormipped their God$^ by being prefent at the Rites of their Religion. Which- was a dangerous piece of Learn- the Fir ft Eoo\ of K I N G S. 171 Learning ^ which he might have known without be- Chapter ing prefent at their Sacrifices. XL Ver. 7. Then did Solomon build an high place for IX"V\J QrtMofk the Abomination of Moab t ~\ Concerning Che- Verfe 7. mofi \ have faid enough ejfe where. See XXI. NatuL 29. In the Hill that fr before Jerhfalew.*] He fet up an Altar upon the Mount of Olives 5 where all the City of Jerusalem might fee what they did. This contra- diets Abarbinel, and (hows he was more than a Spe^ <3:ator of their Worihip : Which he tncouraged by building an Altar for it. And indeed that Author is much to blame in abufing his excellent Parts, to find Excufes for fuch a foul Crime. And for Moloch the Abomination of the Children of Amtnonf\ In the fame place, I fuppofe, Moloch was wor (hipped : For he would not adventure to permit ftrange Worfhip to be exercifed in Jernfakm'M felf: Though his Pofterity did. And fo from little begin- nings followed great Mifchiefs. Ver. 8. And likewfe did he for all hif ftrange Wivet 5 Verfe 8. which burnt Incenfe, andfacrijiced unto their God^\ For what was granted to one, the reft would be apt to claim : Or elfe complain of Unkindnefs to them. It is an aftoniftiing thing that a Man of his Wifdom, fhould not rather have converted them all to his Re- ligion^ than be feduced by them fo much as to fa- vour theirs. But he took no pains with them, hav- ing given up himfelf wholly to his Pleafures. And growing conceited perhaps of his great Wifdom, thought he could reconcile his Religion, with theirs.- And find a good Meaning in all their Superftitiorts. Aba.rbinei obferves in feveral Places, that it h never faid Pharaoh's Daughter turned away his Heart from the LORD, or that he fet up an Altar for her : Which Z 2 il r 7 a A COMMENTARY upon Chapter is an Argument (he was profelyted to the trueReli- Xf. gion? and continued in it. As the reft might have t^VNJ been, if he had made it his Bufmefs . And had not grown indifferent, and thought all Religions alike. Which hath been the Difeafe of fome great Wits. Verfe 9, Ver. 9. And the LORD was angry with Solomon, be- caufe bis bean was turned from the LORD God oflfrael: which had appeared to him twice.] Firft at Gibeon, in the beginning of his Reign, III. 5. and then at Jeru- / v falent after the building of the Temple, IX. 2. There was another time when a Meflage came to him, by the Word of the LORD, VI. 1 2. But we do not read that God appeared to him more than twice ^ which was enough to eftablifh him in his Faith, Fear and Love. Vcrfc IO. Ver. 10. And had commanded him concerning this thing, that hefoould not go after other Gods.~] For in both thofe Vifions the Happinefs God promifed him, was declared to depend upon his Obfervation of God's Statutes as David his Father did. See III. 14. IX. 4, 5. and when he had began to build the Tem- ple he admonished him, that he had better defift, than go on in that Work, unlefs he intended to keep all his Commandments, VII. 12, 13. But he kfpt not that which the LORD commanded.'] Which was the greater Crime, becaufe he had fo oft adrnonifbed him of his Duty , and done fuch great things for him. Vtrfe II. Ver. II. Wherefore the LORD f aid unto Solomon.'] ' Either by fome Prophet, or by a Vifion : Wherein he appeared to him as terribly, as, before he had done kindly j and pronounced this Doom upon him. The former I think is moft probable, that God would not vouchfafe to appear to him any more : But fent this Meflage by Ahijah t or forae other Prophet. the Fifft Bool^of K I N G S. Foraftnuch as thou haft done f j&*c, and thoti haft not Chapter t nty Covenant and my Statutes^ which I commanded XL thee j Iwittfurelyrendthe Kingdom from thee, and give \^V**S ytntttothy-fervant.~] Tear it in pieces, and give the greater part of it to one of his own Subjects, viz. Je- roboam. This was enough to aftonilh any Man to hear that all his Splendor, (hould be fo foon eclipfed: If he were not perfectly ftupified : And it is likely it did make him reflect: upon his Folly 3 and, as many think, moved him to write the Book of Ecdepa- ftes. Ver. 12. Notwithftandirig in thy days I wilt not k'Verfe 12 it + for David thy Father s fake : bttt-I willrend it out of the hand of thy Son.'] Though this was fome Miti- gation of the Punifhment, that in his Days the King- dom (hould continue entire 5 yet he humbled him by letting him know this Favour was not granted- for his Sake, but for his Father's, who had (erved him faithfully. Vcr. 13. Howbeit IwU.not rend away all the King- y e jf c t dom 5 but will give &ne Tribe to thy Son Y for wyfervant David's fak$.~] In Memory alfo. of David's faithful Service, he adds another Mitigation of the Punifh- ment : That the- whole Kingdom (hould not be torn from his Son, but he would leave him one Tribe, over which he (hould reign: Which was that of jf- dab, unto which Benjamin was an Appendix, being much mixed with it. And for Jerufalems^fak^ which I have chofen."] To be the Place of his Habitation, in the Temple built there by Solomon : Which he would fuffer to remain to his Pofterity. Ver. 14. And the LORDftirred up anAdverfary un* Vetfe lo Solomon ^ Hadad the Edomite : he was of the Kings feed m Edom.~\ Though God did not execute the fore- mentioned^ i; 4 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter mentioned Threatning till after his Death, yet he XI. began to afHidfc Solomon by raifing up three Adver- \ Ver. 31. And -when Hadad heard in Egypt that Da- Verfe ii.vid Jlept with his Fathers, and that Joab Captain of the Hoft was dead.'] Whom he dreaded more than David .- having done that terrible Execution upon his Coun- try, of deftroying their Males for fix Months toge- ther. Hadad faid to Pharaoh let me depart, that I may go to wy own Country.] Which he hoped to recover . Now that the great Enemies of it were dead $ and Solomon young. Verfe zt. Ver. 22. Then Pharaoh faid unto him, but what haft thon lacked with me, that thoufeekfft to go to thine own Country ? And he anfwered, Nothing: Howheit let me go in any wife."] Nothing would fatisfy him, but to go and attempt the regaining the Dominion olEdom. Which fome fancy he did by the Interceffion of Pha- raoh: Who .perfwaded Solomon to let him reign in Edom, paying him a Tribute 5 which now in the end of Solomon* Reign he denied to pay, and rebelled againft him. But this proceeds upon a Suppofition, that when David died, Solomon was married, which is not true. Nor is it certain that he was the fame PJtartoh whofe Daughter Solomon married, that had been fo kind as to educate Hadad. It feems to me more likely that though Hadad ventured to his own Country, hedurftnot attempt any thing, till Solo- won began to dec4ine in the Favour of God $ and of his People too. For if HadaJbad moved any Change of Government, Solomon had Forces enough to fup- prefs him} and in his vigorous Age, no doubt would nave done it. He being fo great a Prince, and hav- ing fo many Chariots and Horfemen always ready, that I am apt to think Hadad did not fo much as en- ter the Tirfl Bool^ BRINGS. terinto his own Country : But lived fomewhere near Chapter it, watching an Opportunity to get Pofleflion of it} XI. which he found in the Conclufion of Solomons ^^^r^jf Reign. Ver. 23. And God flirred kin up another Adverfary Verfe 23. Rezon the Son of Eliadah, which fled from ftif Lord Hada.dez.er King of Zobah.~\ When he faw his Army beaten by Kmg David, 2 Sam.V[\\.-$. Ver. 24. And he gathered Men unto him, and be- Verfe 24. came Captain over a band, when David flew them ofZo- bah.~\ Some of thofe that fled, when David defeated Hadadezer, lifted themfelves under Rezon } who be- came their Commander. And it is probable, he lived after the manner of the Arabians by Plunder and Rob- bery, all the Days of David, and the beft part of So- lomon's Reign. And they went to Damafctfs and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damafcttt.~] Not in the days of David : Who had put a Garrifon into Datoafcvf, and brought the People under Tribute, 2 Sam. VIII. 5, 6. And fo they continued fubjedt unto Solomon : Till he doting upon ftrange Women, minded not the Defence of his Conquefts. Which Rezon took the Advantage of, and invaded and got Pofleflion of Damafcvt : And reigned there, as Hadad did in Edom. Ver. 25. And he was an Adverfary to Ifrael, allthe days of Solomon.'] This is not to be underftood of the whole Reign of Solomon, which for the moft part was peaceable (as was obferved before, IV. 20, 25.^ but of all the Days which remained of his Life, from the time that his Wives publickly exercifed their Ido- latry, unto the Day of his Death. Be/ides the bAif chief that Hadad did.] This fignifies, as Abarbinel thinks, that Rezon durft not have rebel- led again ft Solomon , if Hadad had not led him the A a way 178 A COMMENTARY nfon Chapter wa Y ' But feeing what Succefs he had in Edom, he XL and his Men feized on Damafivf. -And he abhorred Ifrael, and reigned over Syria."} In Combination with Hadad he defied Ifrael: And made himfdf Ring not only of Dtwafctu, but over all the Country there about. Verfe 16. Ver. 26. And Jeroboam the Son ofNebatan Epbra* thiteofZereda, Solomons fervant^ In a publick Em- ploy menu \lhoje Mother s Name Mas Zerttab, a Widow Woman, even he lift up bis hand againft the King.~] Not again ft King Solomon, that we read of, but againft his Son . To whom he gave great Difturbance, as foon as Solo- won, was dead. Vcrfe 17. Ver. 27. And this was the Caufe that he lift up hw hand againft the King. Solomon built Millo, and re- faired the Breaches of the City of David htf Fat her. ~] This was the Occafion of Jeroboam's Advancement, as it follows in the next Verfe. For Solomon being engaged in many Buildings, chofe fitting Perfons to overfee his Works $ among which Jeroboam was one. Who took this Opportunity to work in the People a Difaffe&ion to Solomon, and his Government, as Abar- i*Wand other of the Jews imagine. For he repre- fented, fay they, the Building of Al/Zfc, as a Work of Vanity, only to gratify Pharaoh's Daughter : And the Breaches of the City of David they take to have been only open Places, at which People might enter and come eafily many ways to the King's Palace ,- whereas being ftopped up by Solomon, accefs was not fo eafy, but they were forced to go about. This was repre- fented as a Grievance $ efpecially fince fuch heavy Burdens were laid upon the People, to maintain thele Expences. But the Text fuggefts nothing of this. Ver. 28,. the Firfl Eoo\ BRINGS. Ver. 28. And the Man Jeroboam was a mighty Man Chapter of Valour^ Of great Courage, and Strength of XL Body. tXVU And Solomon feeing the young Man that he was /- Verfe 28. ditftrfotff.'] Very diligent in the Bufinefs, wherein he had employed him of looking over his Works. He made him Ruler over all the Charge of ihc Houfc ofjofeph."] Gave him greater Preferment 5 which was to look after the Revenue of a whole Province: The Tribe of Ephraim, and as fome think Max.iffeh alfo. This was an high Obligation upon him ^ but it made him, the Hebrew Do&ors think, only more prefura- ptuous to inftill Difcontent into the People : Who were unneceflarily burdened, to fupport Solomon's Vanity, in fuch vaft Buildings as he undertook. If Jeroboam was guilty of joyning with the People i"f| their Murmurings, and increafing them } this cannot properly be called lifting up the Hand, that is, rebelling againft Solomon : But was a Preparation for it, and difpofed the People to the Revolt, which afterward followed. Ver. 29. And it came to />#//, at that time, when Je- Verfe 29. roboamwentoutofjernfalem.] Where he had been, it is likely, to give up his Accounts; and was returning to his Charge. That the Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way.~] Met with him, as he was going along. Some of the Jewifi Doftors will have this Prophet to be one of thofe who came out of Egypt with Mofes 5 and therefore mutt be five hundred Years old. See Sel- den, Lib. 2. de Synedr.p. 668. Which, if it could be believed, made him the fitter Perfon to reprove Jero- boam afterward forthe Sin of the Golden Calves, and alfo for Rebellion, which he had feen puniflied in Korah, Datbatt, and 'Abiram. A a 2 Anl A COMMENTARY upon Chapter And he had clad himfelfwith a new Garment^ That XL he might make the better appearance at Court, when Lrf'V'NJ he waited on the King. And they two were alone In the Field."] The Prophet,. Lfuppofe, took Jeroboam afide to fpeak with him pri- vately. For it cannot be thought that Jeroboam had no Servants to attend him: But they were bid to (lay where they were, till, the Prophet and he went to confer about fome private Bufinefs. Vcrfe 30. Ver. 30. And, Ahijah caught the new Garment that was on him^ and rent it In twelve Pieces."] Ah Emblem of what followed, or rather a Prediction of it. For there were two ways in thofe ancient Days of foretel- ling things : One inexpref* words, the other in Signs and Refemblances : According to the manner of the Eaflern People in the eldeft times. Many In- ftances we have of it, after this of Ahijah. As Zedekiah made himfelf a pair of Iron Horns, and faid to Ahab^ with, thefe ft alt thott puff), the Syrians^ &C. XXII. u. Eli/ha alfo foretold the Victories of Joafa by mooting Arrows and (tamping on the Ground fo many times, 2 Kings XIII. 18, 6cc. Jeremiah foretold the pulling down of Jemfalems Pride, by the rot- ting of his Girdle, where it was buried by Euphrates. And a great many more in the Old Teftament, which continued in the plew : Agabvs foretelling the Bonds of St. Paul, by binding his own hands and feet with, St. P^/'s Girdle. Verfe 21. Ver. 3.1. And he. f aid to, Jeroboam take thee ten pieces :. for thus faith the LORD the God of Ifrael^ be- hold , I will rend the. Kingdom ont of the hand of Solo* tnon^ and I will give ten Tribes to thee.~] Whence it is Called frequently, the. Kingdom of the ten Tribes. Ver. 3 a, /& Fir ft Bool(, of K I N G S. 1 8 Ver. 3.2. /// hejball have one Tribe.'] Befides his Chapter own. Or, Benjamin and jWd may be Jookt upon XL but as one Tribe : Both of them having a fhare in the *^~v~^s Gity of Jentfalew, and lying near one to the other. Verfe 31. For fftyfervant David's fake, and for Jemfalemsfake, the City which 1 have chofett out of all the Tribes of If- met.'] See above, ^.13.. Ver. 3.3. Becatife they, have forfaken me, and* have Verfe a"^ worftipped Afotaroth the Goddefs of the Zidonians^ and- Chemofo the God of the. Moabites^ and Milcom the God of the Children of Ammon7\ It Teems by this that fome: of the People, at leaft .of Solomons Court followed, his bad Example. And have not walked in } my ways , to dothatvtJrichisT right in mine.Eyes, and to kety my Statutes and my judg- ments, as did David his Father."] This was a great Ag- gravation of his Sin, that he had fo good a Father : Who had given him an excellent Education under Na~ than the Prophet (as I obferved, i Sam. XIL 25.) and a moft pious Example $ having never gone after other Gods, but celebrated the Praifes of the LORD with. the higheft (trains of Love and Devotion., Ver. 34. Howbeit I witt not take the whole Kingdom Verfe 344- out of his hand.~] No, not the Kingdom of the ten Tribes $ whiduW0w* held as long as-he lived. Thefe and the following words explain the Threatning v v. 31. of rending the Kjngaem out of the hand of Solo- mon ^ sot to he meant of taking any part of it. from him, during his Life.!-. But will make him a Prince all the days of his Life, for David niy fcrvants fake; whom 1 chofe, becaufe he.. kg.pt nty^ Go*tr#atidments, and my Statutes'] This was * an Admonition to Jeroboam, not to moleft Solomon in his Life time, by railing Rebellion againft him.-:.A^d- to wallt in God's ways as D.avidi&'\&, andinct 1 / aiti t8i A COMMENTARY nfon Chapter fall into Idolatry $ for which Sin God refolved to punifh Solomon fo feverely, as to rend the greateft part of his Kingdom from his Pofterity. , Ver- 35. But I will take the Kingdom out of his Sons hand, and will give it unto thee : even ten Tribes, ~\ He bids him notdcubtof what he promifed : But hemuft ftay for it till Solomon was dead. Verfe 36. Ver. 36. And unto his Son will I give one Tribe.'} He faith one Tribe, though there were two 5 becaufe (as Abarbinel obferves) they had their Portion and Pof- feflion together in Jerusalem : And though two Tribes were both called by the Name of Judah $ becaufe of the Eminence and Glory of that Tribe : Which was fo great, that before the Diviiion of the Kingdom, Judah is often mentioned as diftinct from the reft of Jfrael. See I.Sam. XI. 8. i Sum. V. 5. That David myfervant may have a Light always be- fore me in Jcn/falem, ike City which J. have chofen to pnt my Name there."] By a Light is meant a Succeflion of Kings, who are called the Light of the People (as David is 2 Sam. XXI. 17.) becaufe they chear them by their comfortable InHuence, when they govern well. And ihefe are faid to be before God in Jeru- falem : Becaufe there he dwelt where they reigned. Verfe 37. Ver. 37. And I will take thee.~] From that Condi- tion wherein he was : And place him on a Throne, as here follows. And thon ft alt reign according to. all that thy Soul de- fireth.'] Have a very flourifhing Kingdom. And ft alt be King over Jfracl.~] But not reign in Je- ntfalew. 'Verfe 38. Ver. 38. Anditftatt be, if thott wilt hearken nnto all that I command thec, and wilt walk^ in my ways, and do that which is right rn my fight, to keep my Statutes, and my Commandments as David myfervant did, that I wifl be Fir/1 B*4 of KINGS. 183 be with thee, and, build theeafore Honfe^ as I built for Chapter David.~] The fame Promife that he made to David^ XI. 2 Sam. VII. 16. only he doth not fay he would efta- CXVSJ blifh his Kingdom for ever. And will give Ifraelvnto thee.] Make them his obe- dient Subjects. Ver. 39. And I will for thjf.~] For their Sin men- Verfe 20. tioned, v.^. Afflift the Houfe ofDavtdJ] By this rending the grea- teft part of the Kingdom from them. But not for ever.~\ For in the days of the Meffiah, faith Ra/f, the Kingdom (hall be reftored to the Houfe of David. And he might have added, that few re- turned out of their Captivity but the Houfe of Judah, who were delivered in a wonderful manner from Ba- bylon. Ver. 40. Solomon fought therefore to kill Jeroboam!] Verfe 40. A fign of his Dotage $ that he could 'entertain a Thought of endeavouring to defeat the pur- pofe of God : But how he came to know what was fecretiy tranfa&ed between Ahijah and Jeroboam alone ; is a great Queftion. Perhaps the Prophet made no fcruple to report what he had delivered in the Name of the LORD. Or, Jeroboam himfelf, be- ing puffed up with this Aflurance, could not contain, but told it to fome of his Confidents, who fpread it abroad. Or, his Servants, though they heard not a word fpoken, yet feeing the rending of his Garment into twelve parts, and the giving ten to him, might (peak of it : The meaning of which Solomon eafily underftoori 5 being told (by the fame Prophet, per- haps) that the Kingdom (hould be rent from him,, and ^iven to his Servant, v. n And A C M Af E N T A ft T /* Chapter -^^ Jeroboam arofe and frd into I'gypt."] This was 4 common Refuge, for difcontenred IVople. And tt M av f eem ftrange that the King of Egypt, being near- ly allied to Solomon, either his Father-in- Law, or Brother-in-Law {-for many think the Father of $$lo- v/on's Wife was dead ) (hould give fuch Perfons En- tertainment. But it is to be confidered that King- doms are never married : And Princes commonly re- gard only their own Intereft. Vtito Shijbak King of Egypt.'] All the Kings of E~ gyyt had the Title of Pharaoh, even from the time of Abraham \ but we never find any one of them, till now, called by his proper Name, to difHnguidi from other Pharaohs: Unlefs Rawe/is (XL VII. Gen. u.) be the Name of a King, not of a Country. Now all agree^that this is the great King who is called by the Greeks Sefoflrx Who having fubdued Ethiopia, ex- tended his Conquefts into Afia, as far as the Ajfyrians, and Medes, as Jofephus tells us, who calls him Setho- Jis 9 Lib. I. contra Apion. Arid was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.'} Being prateded by Skjjhacfc Who it is likely, was now projecting the great Conquefts he made afterwards. Verfe 41. Ver. 41, And the reft of the Afrs of Solomon^ and all that he did t and his Wifdow, are they not wxitteti in the ^4 of the A8s of Solomon^} All the Kings of If- rael 9 as Abarbincl thinks, maintained fome wife Men, who wrote all that paffed in their Reign. Perhaps this was begun \sySolomon (for we read not of any .Book of the Ads of David) and out of thefe Annals , thefacred Writer of this Book took what he thought rnoft ufeful, and omitted the reft, which he did not )udge fo neceflary and inftruftive. Ver. 42. the Firji Eoo\ of K I N G & 185 Ver. 42. And the time that Solomon reigned in Jertf Chapter falem over all Ifrael] There feems to have been no need XI. to fay he reigned in Jerufalew^ fince he reigned over all Ifrael; If it had not been to (bow the great Tran- quilityof his Reign. Which was fuch, that he did not go out to war as other Kings, but lived quietly in his Royal Cky. Was forty Tears.] He loft the great Privilege of long Life, which God promifed if he performed fuch fin- cere Obedience as David did: Unto whofe Age he did not attain. Ver. 45. And Solomon Jlept with his Fathers, and was Verfe .buried in the City of David his Father, and Rehoboartt fa Son reigned in his (lead.'] Thus concludes the Hi- ftory of this great Man $ without any, the kaft, men- tion of his Repentance v Though he faw terrible Pu- nilhments coming upon his Family. Which fhould have moved him (one would think) to pull down the high Places he had built for Idolatrous Worfhip, and abandon ail his ft range Wives : And done fome remarkable Honour to the LORD Cod of IfraeL Which if he did, the Divine Writer did not think fit to record it, but to leare all in Uncertainty, and leave a Blot upon his Memory . That all Pofterity might have a frightful Example of Humane Weaknefs 5 and learn thereby to watch and pray left they enter into Temptation. CHAP* i85 A COMMENTARY *po *"$? CHAP. XII. Yerfc i. Verfe i. \ND Rthoboam went to Schechent.'] A X\ Multitude of Children was accounted a great Bleffing among the Ifraelites : But if Solomon had any more befides this Son, and two Daughters, men- tioned IV. u, 15. this Holy Writer would not do him the Honour to mention them, but paffes them by is filenee. Nor doth he vouchfafe to acquaint u (as is ufual) in the beginning of his Story, from whom Rehoboattt was defccnded by the Mother's fide : ut in the Conclufion mentions it twice (XIV. 2 1 , $1.) that (he was an Ammonitefs, one of an Infa- mous Nation. Howfoever, though he was not in- tkely an Ifraelite, he pretended to the Kingdom : Be- ing the eldeft, if not the only Son of Solomon, to whom it belonged by the Law then eftablimed $ which ever after continued in Jvdah. That which follows flsows this was the Opinion of all the People. Foral/Ifrael^tMfcowe to-Schechem to make him King.*] To acknowledge him for their Sovereign, as rightful Succeflbr to Solomon. They met for this purpofe at Schecfom, becaufe it was the moft convenient Place, being in the middle of the Kingdom. Or, as others think, becaufe it was in the Tribe of Ephraim } where they could fpeak theif Minds more freely than they durft at Jerusalem, which was in the Tribe of Jttdak, And this hath fome colour in it, from what follows $. that they fent for Jeroboam to meet them there, who would not venture to come to Jcrttfalem, Ver. 2o the Fir/1 Bo\ of KIN G S. i'$ 7 Ver. 2. And it came to pafs when Jeroboam the Son 0/Chapter Nebat, aha was yet in Egypt heard ofit.~] The words XL of it are not to the Original, but only that he heard: L/"W* Either of this Meeting or of the Death of Solomon 5 or Verfe x. both : For he could not here of this Meeting, with- out hearing of his Death. For he was fled front the Prefence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt In Egypt."] As hath been related in the foregoing Chapter. Ver. 3. That they fent and called him.~\ At the fame Verfe 3. time that he heard of this Meeting, and the occafion of it, a Meflage came to him from the AfTembly, to defire his Affiftance. And Jeroboam, and all the Congregation oflfrael came and /pake unto Rekoboam, f*ying.~] By all the Congrega- tion is meant all their Elders, and Heads of their Tribes: Who chofe Jeroboam to be their Speaker. Ver. 4. Thy Father made our Yoke grievow : Now Verfe 4. therefore make thott the grievous Service of thy Father, and hif heavy Yoke which he put vport tff , lighter $ and vte will ferve thee.~\ They begin with a Complaint again ft the former Government 3 but promife to fub- mit to Reboboam as their King, and be his faithful Subjects : If he would promife to cafe them of thofe Burdens which his Father had impofed on them. Which were not fo heavy as they reprefented them, confidering the Peace and Plenty they enjoyed (IV. 25.) and the vaft Riches he brought into the King- dom, fo that Silver was nothing accounted of in his Days, X. xi. But People are more fenfible of the fmalleft Preflures, than of all their Enjoyments . And moft fenfible of the leaft Burden, when they are at perfeft Eafe. Such were the Tributes he exacted for his Buildings, the Expences of his Family, and Main- tenance of Chariots and Horfemen: Which were all Bb 2 for A COMMENTARY *fon Chapter for the Honour of the Nation ^ and employed great XII. Numbers of them. Abarbinel thinks it is poffible, t/*V"V when War was raifed by Hadad and by Rezon againflt him, in his later Days, the Tribute might be increa- fed : And occafion their grumbling. But howfoever that be, it is obfervable, that they make no Complaints at all of Solomon's Idolatry, and the ftrange Worfhip^ he introduced : About which they were not concern- ed, but rather complied with him. See XI. 33. Verfe 5 Ver. $. Andhefaid unto them, depart yet for three days, then come again tome: and the People departed."] He defired time to confider, in fo weighty a Bufinefs : Pretending, I fuppofe, he would examine the Truth. of their Allegations : Otherwife it had been dange- rous, to fend them away without any Anfwer, when it was evident they were difgufted.. Y'erfe 6. Ver. 6. And King Rehoboam ."] By this, it is plain^ he had a Title to the Kingdom/ Though they had not yjet made a Recognition, as we fpeak> of his Au- thority-. fonjitlted with the old Men that flood before Solomon? hfc Father, while he yet lived."] Solomon was fo wife,, as in his beft Days, not to depend folely on his own Wifdom: But had other wife Men with whom he advifed, as his Councilors in all Matters of Mo- ment. And faid, how do ye advife, that I may anfaer this People."] Being Men of great Experience, who had learnt, no doubt, much Wifdom under fo wife a King as Solonu> ^ he had reafon both to confult fuch> Sages, and to depend upon their Advice as likeJy to be moft prudent and fafe. Virfc 7. Ver. 7; And, theyfpakg unto him> faying, ifthott wilt be a. Servant nnto thit People to day, and wiltferve them an farther*) and fpea^ gped words to them, then fe Fir ft Boo\ of KINGS. tfteywillbe thy Servants forever."} This was moft folid Chapter Advice, to get PofTeffiort of the Kingdom, and then XII. he might govern as his Father had done. And he might eafily be poflefTed of it, by condefeending to them for once, and giving them fuch an Anfwer as they defired : Which would oblige them to him for ever. For to be their Servant one <&/, fignified no more than to court them with good word*, and kind Promifefc, to be an eafy Governour of them: Which would win their Hearts, and make them fubmit cheat- fully to him: And give him the fame Power, which his Father had. Ver. 8. But he forfook. the Cottnfel of the old Mm, Verfe which they gave thew^] He was proud and vain, I fup- pofe, and fcorned ta court his Peopk : Expe&ing- Obedience unto him, as an abfohite Monarch. And confulted with young Men^ that were grown* up* with him, and flood before hifffJ] He had made foine of> his Familiars, who had been bred up with him, attd- attended him, to be now of his Privy Counfel : Men* unexperienced, and who underftood not the Humour of the People. Which is a frequent Fault of new Kings, who to (how their Power, prefently change their Counfellors, and put in new Officers; to^rati- fy all their Dependants .-. Not confidering who are. wifeft, but who have been their Companions. Ver. 9. Andhef aid unto thet what cottnfel give J0, Veife that we may anfwer this People \ who have fpofyn to me^ A y' in & r make the Yoke which thy Father did jwt upon us^, lighter."] It is Irkely^ he told them, what the old Counfellors had faid : Who they thought were too. timerous, and therefore give more bold and fiercer Advise, 4 COMMENTARY upon Chapter Ver. ro. And the young Men that were grown ftp with XII. him,fpakc unto hiw, f<*y* n g-"] They were not fo young, *^v r *SJ but they might have had more Wit (if they had not V.erfe 10. be en Men of Pleafure) for Rehoboam being one and forty Years old when he began to reign (XIV. 21.) and thefe Men growing up with him, were about the fame Age. Thuffhalt thoufpeak^ unto the People, that fpa^e unto thee, faying^ tky bather made our Yoke heavy i, tut makg thou, it lighter to ut : thus ftalt thou fay unto them, nty tittle Finger fhafl be thicker than my. Father s Loyns^\ They advife him to threaten to lay Burdens upon them, as much heavier than his Fathers : As the Loyns are thicker than the little Finger : Words of Infamy, Madnefs, Stupidity, and full of Lyes, as Abarbinel heregloifes: For he magnifies hinrfelf, asifhisPow- er excelled his Fathers, unto whom he was nothing comparable. And if it had been true, it did not be- come him to boaft on this Fafhion : But he ought ra- ther, to have highly magnified the Glory and Maje- fty of his Father. Verfe XI. Ver. n. And no* whereat nty Father did lade yon rvHb a *keavy Yofa I will add to yonr ToJ^e."] What a fenflefs Stupidity was this (as the fame Author pro- ceeds) to grant the Accufation to be true which they brought againft his Father : And not rather to have excufed, and defended fo excellent a Prince, from whom they could not but acknowledge they had re- ceived exceeding great Benefits? My Father hath chaflifed you with Whipt, but I tpiU nbaftifc you with Scorpions."] This is ftill worfe to ac- cufe his Father of fuch Severity (which the People did not) that he treated the Ifraelites like Beafts : For .a Whip if for a Herfe, as Solomon obferves, XXVI. Prtv. 3. And who could endure to hear him fay, that the Fir ft Boo^of KING S; *$>i that he would treat them far more feverely, and tear Chapter their very FJeQi in pieces. For that is meant by Scor- XIL pious. Whips with Rowels in them (as we fpeak) C^VN which Abarbinel calls Iron Thorns. See Bochartus in his Hierozoicon, P.i. Lib.IV. Cap.XXXH. Ralbag limply calls them Thorns tied to a Whip, which grie- voufly pricked and tore the Flefh. See Carpzoviw upon Schickprd's Jw Regium, Cap. II. Theorem VII. p. 145. What People could bear this with Patiences or endure to come under the Yoke of fuch a furious Prince > Ver. 12. So Jeroboam and all the People came to Reho- Verfe 13 boam the third day, as the King had appointed, faying^ come agam the third day."] In which time wifer Thoughts, one would have expected mould have ta- ken Place; But Solomon had obferved, that there noCottnfel, nor Understanding, norWifdom againftthe LORD (XXL Prov. 30.) whofe doing this was, as it follows, v. 1 5. Ver. 1 3, And the King anfaered the People roughly ^ Verfe* r$ and forfook. the Counfkl of the old Men, which they gave kir/t.] He anfwered them like a Tyrant 5 not like a King. Ver. 14. And fpnke to them after the Counfel fl/'f^e Verfe young Men."] Which was mo ft fbi table to a Prince of ahigh and violent Spirit. Saying, my Father made your Toke heavy, and I will *dd to yew Toke: my Father alfo ckuftifed you w'fih Whips, but I will chaftife yon with Scorpions.~] He thought, it is likely, to have frighted them into Obe- dience, by this blufter'mg Language: Which j made him -odious. Ver 15. Wherefore the King heark?ed>not unto People of IfraelJ] Who deliied to be^eafed of their A COMMENTARY upon Chapter r *hc cavfe was from the LORD, that he might per- XIL -form his faying, which the LORD fpake by Ahijah the \tSV\j Shilonite unto Jeroboam the Son of Nebat^} Cod infa- tuated his Counfels, to bring about his own Defign. Otberwife, he could not have been fo blinded, as not to fee how bafely he reflected upon his Father $ and how unlikely it was that the People would fubmit to fuch a Power as he intended to exercife over them. But as Livy excellently fpeaks, Fatis urgentiltft Rent- publicam, omniafalutaria momtafyernttntur. And here one cannot but obferve the vaft difference there is, be- tween the Sacred and Profane Hiftorians. The In- tention of the former is to poflefs Mens Minds with a Senfeof Divine Providence, which fecretly rules in ail publique, as well as private Affairs. Matchiavcl himfelf, though far from being Religious, was fenfi- bje of an over-ruling Power interpoling in all things, which few Hiftorians acknowledge fo as they ought $ but rather write, as if they would not have their Rea- der think of any thing, but the Wifdom, Strength and Policy of thofe that manage Affairs : Without any Consideration of the Care God takes of them. Of this Hermanns Conringitt* thinks Polybiw himfelf to have been guilty .- Whatfoever ExcufesG(/i^# makes for him. De Civili Prudentia, Cap. XIV. Vetfc n6. Ver. 16. So when All Ifradfuw that the King heark? vcd not unto them, the People anfaered the King, fay- ing. What Portion have we in David .?] They renounce all Intereft ia him, and in his Family. Neither have we Inheritance in the Son of Jeffe.] So they call David in a contemptuous and fcornful man- ner. Wherein they have left us an exact Pidhirc of an ungrateful World, as Viftorinvs Strigeliut here fpeaks. For no Eloquence is able to exprefs the great Merits of David to the Children of Ifrael. T* the Firji Be;^ of KINGS. TQ your Tents, Ifrtel, now fie to thy own Houfe, Chapter David : fo Ifrael departed to their Tents.~] They left XII. Rehoboaw, and bad him look to his own Affairs.- For they would have nothing to do with him. Thus o- ther Kingdoms have been overturned by the Folly of heady young Men: As an old Poet obferves in Tuty's Book De Scncftnte^ Cap. VI. Where he quotes thefe Verfes out of Navivs in a Play of his, in which one asks, Cedlj qui veftrattt Republic am tantam umifftfc tarn cito. Tell me, I befeech thee, how you came to lofe fuch a Famous Common-wealth fo quickly ? Unto which he brings in another returning this Anfwer, Proventabant Oratores novi, Stulti Adolefcentuli. There rofe up new Orators, a Company of Foolifh Youths. Upon which Cato makes this Remark, viz. ejlflorentfc atattf, PrudeHtiafeneJcentfc. Raftinefs is the Property of Youth, Prudence belongs to Old Age. Ver. 17. But as for the Children of Ifrael which dwelt Verfe 17. in the Cities offadah, Rehoboam reigned over them^] As feveral of the Siweonites alfo did . Who were very nearly fituated to Judah. Ver. 1 8. Then King Rehoboam fent Adoniram who Verfe 18. was over the Tribute."] This was a new piece of Impru- dence, to fend one to treat with them, when they C c were ip 4 A COMMENT ART *pon Chapter were fo highly exafperated; and to fend him (with" XII. Promifes, perhaps, of eafing them, when it was too L^VNJ k { O wno na d tne principal Care of thofe Tributes, of which they complained. For People hate thofe that are the Inftruments of their Oppreffion, or any way employed in it., And all Ifrael ftoned him with Siones that he d/edf] There was a general Uproar again ft him : In which they committed this Barbarity, again ft the Law of all Nations $ which prohibits any Violence to be done to a King's Emba-flador. But in their Rage, the King feared ("it appears by the next words ) they would have no refpcft to himfelf. Therefore King Rthoboam madefpeedtoget him itp to his Chariot, to flee to Jerttfalem."] This feems to be a fur- ther Imprudence : Forhefhould have maintained his Ground and kept footing (as we fpeak) in the Coun^ try of Jfrael : From whence it might not have been eafy for them to expel him- But Fear is as bad an Advifer, as Fury. This is the firft time that we read of a King riding in a Chariot : For we never read that either &*/, or David> or Solomon rode in them : But after the DivHion of the Kingdom, there w fre- quent mention of the ufe of them both by the Kings otjitdth and of Jfrael. Verfe 19. Ver,i9. So Ifrael rebeUed^agamft^he Hoitfe of Davids unto this d(iyJ\ Would no longer be governed by any of David's rVace : Who had been their Deliverer from their powerful Enemies. The Remembrance of which might have made them more patient ; and not fo for- ward ttxrevolt from a^Family to which they had been- fo much obliged. But old Kindnefles are laid a(leep y and People are ftrangely forgetful of Benefits, a far fpeak$ ^ \n Iffihvti* Ode 7^ the F/r/f Chapter XII. *ftvaifMn$ j) This Defection from the Family of David, is juft- 1y called a Rebellion, as S alii anus notes in his Annais$ for though God willed this Defe&ion, as a Punifh- ment of Sin : Yet they did wickedly who were the Authors of it. And though the Family of Solomon dfferved fuch a Punifhment, yet the Peopk had no juft reafon to forfake their Legal Prince. For they had no Order from God for it : And Rchoboams An- fwer to them did not deferve fuch a Refentment$ much lefs fo fudden and inconfiderate. Nor did the Prophetical Prediction warrant it : Which might have been fulfilled fome other way, than by fuch a violent throwing off his Government. Ver. 20. And it came to pafi when all IJrael heard Verfe 20. that Jeroboam was come again. T) The great Men had feen him, and needed not to be informed of his Re- turn, v. 3. but now the News was fpread overall the Country. That they fent, and caUed him to the Cottgregation.~\ From his Tent, unto which he was gone as other Peo- ple were, v. 16. And made him King over all Ifrael."] Without any Condition, that we can find : Though it is likely, he promifed to eafe them of all their Burdens. There mre none that followed the Hoiift of David, &/# the Tribe of Judah only.] Which comprehended Ben- jamin alfo being one with k, as was obferved before, XI. 31,52. And it was by the fingular Providence of God 5 that they were not alfo tempted to defert fuch a haaghty Prince as Rehofyam was, C c 2 Ver. 2 1* 19 6 ACOMMENTART upon Chapter Ver. 2 1 . And when Rehoboam was come to Jerufalem, XII. he ajfembled all the Houfe of Judah, with the Tribe of V B /^V"NJ Benjamin, an hundred and fourfcore thoufand chofen Verfe 21. Men, which were Warriors :, to fight againft the Houfe of Jfrael, to Bring the Kingdom again to Rehoboam the Son of Solomon.'] This was a very potent Tribe, efpe- cially aflifted by Benjamin, and wanted not Affe&ion to the Houfe of David, which they had exprefTed upon all OccafionSi And were ready now, with a very nu- merous Army to fall upon the Ifradites $ before their new King was fetled in his Throne : And bring them back to their rightful King. Verfe 2i. Ver. 22. But the word of God came to Shemaiah the Man of God, faying.~] A Perfon, known to be a Pro- phet, was fent to them from God with a Meflage .- Before they marched to the Country oflfiael. Ver. 2 3 . Speak Hnto Rehoboam the Son of Solomon King ofjndah.~] God himfelf owns him for no more than King of Judah. And to all the Houfe of Judah and Benjamin, and to the Remnant of the People , faying.] Unto thofe men- tioned v. 1 7* Verfe 24. Ver. 24. Thvt faith the LORD, ye fljall not go up to fight againjl your Brethren the Children of Ifrael 5 turn every Man to hff Honfe : for this thing if from te7\ Who was refolved to maintain what he had done .- It was the Intention and Defign of God to make Je- roboam King.- But he did not ftay for his Appoint- ment, but ufurped the Kingdom by the Helpof cer- tain vain Fellows, who railed a Sedition again ft Re~ hoboam. See 2 Chron. XIII. 5, 6, 7. And befides, God did not promife to fethis Pofterity upon his Throne . fas he did to David and Solomon) unlefs he kept his Commandments, which he did not.* And therefore though he faith the thing was from him^ yet the fetting his, tbt Firfi Boo^ of K I N G S. l ^ his Son upon the Throne after him, and the fucceed- Chapter ing Kings, were not/row him, but in Hofea he faith, XII. Vlll. 4. They have fit up Kings, hut not by me : They S^V"**-* have jet up Prince '/, and I know it not^ Le. did not approve it. They hearkned therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.] Now Rehoboam was cool, and began to be wife,in not refitting the CounfeIofGod,who had taken the Kingdom from him : But fnbmitting to his Decree, and bearing it patiently. The People, at Jeaft, were of this Mind, and perfwaded him not to engage in a War, wherein God would appear againft him. Ac- cording to the Counfel of Menander mentioned by Strigeliw , Md'idst/fta^ei, juw$ Tr^jmyx TO* irz&yfjutfi y&yu&vaz lT?p8, ras 3 dvctyi&fas $%& Fight not againjl God ^ neither do any thing to bring upon thy felf new Storms and Tewpefts : but bear thofe that are neceffary^ and cannot be avoided. Ver. 25. Then Jeroboam built Schechem in Mount E- Verfe 25, phraim^ and dwelt therein,] For there it is. likely they chofe him King . And therefore he enlarged and beau- tified it ("which is meant by built) to be his Royal Seat. And he went out from thence, and built Penuel.~] But this did not fatisfy him, he removed from thence to another City, which he alfo built: And fo became a Builder as well as Solomon, with whofe Buildings he is thought to have found fault. Ver. 16; And Jeroboam J "aid in his Heart now fli all the Kingdom return to the Houfe of David.~] Though God had told him he would build him a fure Houfe. (XI. 37, gS'O ir' he kept his Commandments, yet he did not truft to his Promife; but after he had been fome time poflelTed of the Kingdom began to fear A C MME N TA K T Chapter a Revolt of the People, if he permitted them to wor- XII. ihip God according to the Law : And to contrived At which the pious Men ftartlcd and were full of* Indignation ^ but their^wicked Neighbours whifpercd" to them faying, do you think Jtroboaw will hono^r^ Idols? He fait?h this only to try your Obedience,' And fo -even Ahijah himfdf, wasdrawn^io, 200 A , C OMMENT/tRY Chapter Fraud, to fubfcribe to what he propofed, that they would be obedient in all things without Exception. And made two Calves ofGoltt.'] One Egg, as Bochar- tuf fpeaks, is not more like to another, than thefe Calves were to that which Aaron made. Onely, as the Jews lay in Sanhedrin, till Jeroboam's time the If - raelites fucked but one Calf; but from that time they fucked two. They were of the fame Matter with Aa- ron*^ and made for the fame Reafon : His becaufe Mofes was abfent j and thefe, becaufe the Holy City (where the Temple, the Altar, the Priefts of God were) they could not come to with Safety. And as Aaron fo Jeroboam learnt this Calf Worfhip in Egypt ^ where he lived for fome Years. The LXX. tranilate thefe Words $vo &t/u^cA$ %guat, two flie Calves 5 and fo doth Jofephus : And the Prophet Hofea alfb fpeaks of them in the Faeminine Gender, X.f. by way of Contempt and Defpifal, as Eochartus thinks. It is not improbable (as fome Learned Men have conje- ftured) that he made two Calves, in Imitation of the Egyptians, with whom he had converfed, who had a couple of Oxen, which they wormipped: Apif at Memphis the Metropolis of the upper Egypt } and Mnevtf at Hierapolfc, which was the chief City of the lower. And J aid unto them, it is too ntuchfor you, to go ttp to Jerufalem.~] Or, as fome expound the Hebrew words, you have gone long enough to Jerufalem. Behold thy Gods^ Ifrael, which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt.^ The very fame words that Aaron had fpoken (XXXII. Exod. 4.) and they hid the fame meaning. For he would have them think, that there was no need of going up to Jew- falem, three times a Year, with Labour and Charge j when the true God who brought their Fathers out of Egypt the Firjl Boo\ of Kl N G S. 30 1 Egypt dwelt among them there, no lefs than at Jew- Chapter fakfft. For God is every where in his Eflence (it is XII. likely he told them) and cannot be included in any L/*WJ place : And if they required any fpecial Symbols of his Prefence, behold, here they were in thofe Calves which he fet up. As if every Man had Power to de- vife, out of his own Head, a Symbol of God's Pre- fence. See Voflius de Orig. & Progr. Idolol. Lib. I. Cap. 5. Ver. 29. And he fet the one in Bethel^ and the other Verfe 29. put he in Dan.~] The former of which was in the South, the later in the North of the Country of If- racl: And as Bethel was in every Bodies Opinion a Sacred Place (having been confecrated by Jacob when God appeared to him there more than once) fo Dan had been famous for the Teraphim of Micah 5 unto which there had been great refort, a long time, XVIII. Judges 30. For fuch Reafons as thefe, it is likely he waved his Royal City, which was Schechem ^ and chofe thefe two Places for the Refidence of the Di- vine Majefty. For fo he pretended, that thefe Calves reprefented God: Whom he did not forfake, but wormip him in thefe Symbols of his Prefence. Ver. 50. And this became a Sin.~] Led them into foul Verfe 30. Idolatry . For that was the Sin which Jeroboam is fo often accufed of. And the fetling a Calf in Dan was an high Aggravation of their Sin 3 there being no Pretence for two Calves $ nor for placing one there, where God had never been extraordinarily prefent. For the People went to worflrip before the one^ even un- to Dan."] Which Place being in the extream part of the Country, yet the People were fo zealous in their Idolatry, that they travelled to offer Sacrifice there : So that they who thought it grievous to go to wor- fhip God at Jerttfalem, did not think much to go a D d great A C M ME NT ART upm Chapter great deal further to worthip an Idol. This feems to XH. me the fimpleft Meaning : Which others take to be y Lrf'WJ that they who dwelt in Be^e/were fo zealous, that they would go as far as Dan t to worfhip the other Calf. Verfe 31. Ver. 31. And he made an Houfe of high Places^] That is, faith Abarbinel, he made an Houfe or Temple at Dan : Wherein there was not one Altar only, as there was at Jerufalem, but a great many high Places. And made Priefts of the loweft of the People, which were not of the Sons ofLevi.~] The Hebrew words Mi- keteoth-kaavi (hould not be interpreted the loweft of the People, but as the fame Abarbinel expounds it, out of all the People, he made any Body a Prieft, though he was not of the Sons of Levi. And Bochartttt hath ju- ftified this Expofttron, by a great many Examples of the ufe of thefe words in other places. Unto this Je- roboam was forced, becatife the Levites would not ferve his Impiety, 2 Chron. XT. 14. and therefore he expelled them all, and feized on their Cuies and Lands. Whereby as he eafed the People of paying Cheir Tithes, there being none to demand them : So he gratified them by making Priefts out of every Tribe and Family 5 even in the extreamefl part of the Coun- try^ as ihe Hebrew words fignify : Thus as he trans- ferred the Kingdom from the Houfe of David ^ fo he transferred the Pnefthood from the Family of Aaron. : And letk loofe, that any Body might be admitted fo that Honourable Employment. Which was a very popular thing : And ingratiated him no doubt with the Ifiaektes. And Cornel. Bertram thinks that as he had Priefis, (b he had Levites alfo of the fame Stamp : That is, fome to officiate under the Priefts, as they The former he called Cokenim, as they were in fad ah ; The other h ailed CmtrtM, who mini* its Firjt B0 that there came a, Verfe I. JL\ Man of God out of Judah.'] That is, a Prophet : For none are called Men of God, but Pro* phets. And fo this Man is called below, v. 1 8. whence Kimchi concludes David, was a Prophet, becaufe he is called a Man of God. And this Prophet is thought by the Jews to be Iddo : Whofe Villon againft Jero- boam is mentioned 2 Chron. IX. 29. But this is an evi- dent Miftake: For Iddo was alive in the Days of Abi- jah the Son of Rehoboam (2 Chron. XIII. 22.) Where- as this Prophet here fpoken of, was killed immediate- ly after this Prophecy. Therefore they were not the fame : Unlefs we fuppofe that what is here related fell, out in the later end of Jeroboams Reign.. Tertttllian in his Book de Jejunio, Cap. XVI. calls- him Sa/tteas : Where Rigaltiw obferves that Jofephtts- calls him Jadon, and Epiphamus Joanti, By the Word of the LORD unto Bethel.'] By a parti* cular Command of God. And Jeroboam flood by the Altar to burn Incenfe.] Upon that Feaft Day, which he had inftituted. See the laft Verfe of the foregoing Chapter. Ver, 2.. And he cried againft the Altar in the Word of Verfe i* the LORD."] Declared it, and the WorQiip there per- formed to be Idolatrous : Which he fpake by Author raty from God : Andfaid, Altar^ Altar.~] Some think he menti- oned the Altar twice, to fignify, that he prophecied againft that in Dan, as well as againft this in Bethel. 9 o8 * COMMENTARY Chapter Tb& faith the LORD, behold a Child Jhall le Xllf. **'* tht Houft of David, J off ah by Name.^ The Pro- t/~W> phets faw things future, as if they were prefent. And though this was not to come to pafs, till above three hundred and fixty Years after this time, yet this Man of God foretells it, as if it were to be done ere long. And the Prediction is the more wonderful, becaufe he tells out of what Family he (hould fpring, and what fltou'd be his Name. Attd upon thee fliaflfa offer the Priefts of the high Pla- ces, that burn Incenfe upon thee, and Mens Bones JJjall he burn upon thee.'] The Meaning 13 not that he ftiould burn trie Priefts alive 5 but the Execution of this Pro- phecy explains rt: That he mould flay the Prieftsof the high Places, and then burn their Bones, as he did the Bones of thofe that had been buried : And there- by defile this Altar, 2 Kings XXIU. 15, 16, 20. Verfe 3. Ver. 5. And he gave afign the fame day.'] To con- firm his Prophecy. Saying, thfc if the Sign which the LORD hath fpo- ken."} A Proof that he fpake from God, and not from hirnfelf. Behold, the Ah or flul! be rent, and the Aflxs that are upon it, fiatt be poured out."] This could not be done, but by the Power of God 5 who hereby demonftrated he bad fent this Prophet tofpeak thefe words^ which were prefently fulfilled. Vcrfe 4. Ver. 4. And it came to pafs, when Jeroboam heard the faying of the Man of God, which had cried againfl the Altar in Bethel.'] In the Pefence of the King him- felf, when he was about the Solemn Service of his gods. That he pnt forth hrs hand from the Altar.'] Where he ftood, v. i, tie Firft Book, of K I N G S. 207 Saying, lay hold on him.~] As he himfelf would have Chapter done, had he been near him. XIII. And his hand which he put forth again ft him, dried \^V~*^ *P 5 f *hat he could not pull it in again to him.'] The Mufcles and Sinews fhrunk, fo that it was ftiffand rigid : And he perfectly loft the ufe of it. Which Prodigy was a new Token, that the Prophets words would be fulfilled. Ver. 5 . And the Altar alfo wof rent, and the Afhts Vcrfe > poured out from the Altar, according to the fgn which the Man of God had given by the Word of the. LORD.'] Which fo amazed all the People, that we do not find any Body went about to lay hold on him : But Jero- boam himfelf was, for the prefent, aftonrfbed at the miraculous Power of God. Ver. 6. And the King anfmred ad faid unto the Verfc 6. Man of God, intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray- for >*e.~] A marvellous Change ! He that juft now threat ned v humbly fupplicates him that fraote him. Th*t my hand may be reftored me ag*m.~) He was- convinced that healing muft come from the fame hand that gave the: Wound : And that it was in vain to feek to his gods* And the Man of God befonght the LORD, and the Kings hand was reftored him again^ and became as it was before. ~] He did not intend his Deftruclion, but / IKS Reformation : And therefore granted his Requeil.' Whereby a nev/ Miracle was wrought for his Con- wdion. Ver. 7. And the King fard unto the Man of God, "VYrfe 7>^ came Home mth /e, and refrefo thy feLf^ and 1 wiUgrve thec a Reward^] A ftrange Imenftbility of God's great Mercy to him : Which did not lead him to Repen- tance, when it moved him to fo much Gratitude as to defire ao8 A COWMEN TA R. Y upon Chapter defire to reward him that was the Inftrument of his XIII. Cure. His Hand was reftored, but not a good v^-VSJ Mind. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And the Man of God faid to the King, if thou wilt give me half thine Houjl, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat Bread, nor drink^ Water in this Place."] For he had a Charge from God (as it follows) not to communicate with them, who were Apoftates * from their Religion. Verfe 9. Ver. 9. For fo it wot charged me by the J_ORD, fay- **] The fame Divine Authority, which fent him thither to do what they had heard and feen, gave him this following Charge. Eat not Bread, nor drink, Water, nor turn again by the fame way that thon cameft.'] The Reafon is plain, why he (hould not eat or drink with thern^ becaufe that was to have familiar Society with Idolaters. But why he (hould not return the fame way that he came, is not fo evident. Some think it was to reprefent, that even the way to Bethel was abominable $ and therefore not to be frequented : Or, to (how how much we ought to abhor that which leads to Evil. But itfeems to be a Proverbial Speech $ fignifying that he (hould be conftant and ftedfaft in executing the Charge com- mitted to him. For he that doth any thing without Succefs is faid to return by the way that he went XXXVII. Ifaiah 29, 34. And therefore not to return by the way that he went, is to do his Bufinefs effe- ctually. Verfe 10. ^ er * I0t ^ftfitev>M another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel^} To (how (a many think) how God detefts the way to Idolatry : And would have it to be forgotten. Ver. ii. Fir/* B*o\ of K 1 N G S. Ver. 1 1. And there was an old Propket.~] One who Chapter fiad many Years been a Prophet before this Apoftafy : XIII. Whofe Name the Jews fay was Micah. Who was a L/V*NJ Worfhipper of the true God, though he dwelt among Verfe 1 1* this idolatrous People. A great many take him to have been a falfe Prophet : But Tbeodoret proves that he was a true, though guilty of telling a Lye to the Man of God. See Hermamtus Witfuf his MtfceUanet^ Tom. I. p. 142, Sec. In Bethel^} He was originally of Samaria, as we learn from 2 Kings XXIII. 18. But removed hither, it is* likely, fince this Revolution, that he might fee what Jeroboam deiigned. And his Sons came And told lira all the Works that tfo Man of God had done that Day in Bethel"] In the He- brew it is, his Son came and told him, Sec. that is, one of his Sons came firft, and told all the foregoing Paf- fages : And afterwards came all the reft of them, aad confirmed what he had related. The Words that hefpoken to the King, them tfay alfit told their Father.] By this it appears, they were prc- fent when Jeroboam ftood at the Altar $ and therefore Joyned in that idolatrous Worfhip} though their Fa- ther did not, and yet was fo timerous that he durft not reprove it. Ver. 13. And their Father fold unto them, whichwyY&fc t<2. went he ? fir his Sons hadfeen what way the Man of God went, that came from Jxdah^] They had the Curiofity to obferve what way fuch a remarkable Perfon went to his own Country : Imagining perhaps tbeir Father would have a Mind to difeourfe with him. Ver. 13. And he fold unto bis Sons, f addle me fofceVtrfe tg. Aft : So theyfadled him the Afs^ and he rode thereon.~\ In the way they dire^d him. EC Vet 14. A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Ver. 14. J^nd went after the Man of God, XIII. him fitting under an Oaki] Weary, I fuppofe, with a \^VNJ long Journey $ and faint for want of Vi&uals. Vcrfe 14. And he faid art than the Man of God that came from Jttdah . commanded him to bring him back to his Hbufe, and refrefh himfelf there. To thine Hotifc, that he may e At Bread and drink Water.~] He perfwaded him, I fuppofe, that the mea- tilig Q Gad's Charge, Thou. Jhall not eat. Bread, nor drink the Fir ft Eoo\ of K I N G S. ait ^ Water in thfr place, was to be underftood of Chapter Sinners and Idolaters, with whom he might not com- XIII. municate: But he being a Prophet, was not to be comprehended in that Command. Add therefore the Angel faid, bring him back to thine Houfe : Not to the Habitation of any Idolater, buc to his Dwelling- Houfe, which was undefiled. Thus Abarbinel. But he lied unto him.~] All this was a-Fi#ion $ which Cod fufFered for the Trial of the good Man / Whe- ther he would believe him, or a Man he did not know. Ver. 19. So he went lack, with him, and did e<*/ Verfe Bread and drink Water in his Honfe.'} . He thought it poffible that God might, in Pity to him, revoke his Prohibition : Becaufe he was hungry and weary. But he ought to have believed the rvevelation he had him- felf, of which he was certain : And not trufted to what another pretended was revealed to him \ which he could not be fure was true. And it is faid empha* tically, v. 22. The LORD did fay to thee, eat no Bread, &c. If God had, in Compaffion to him> thought fit to recall that Word $ he would have dqne it to hirnfelf : And as plainly allowed him to refrefh himfelf, as before he had forbidden it. So Abarbinel well obferves, Nothing that a, Prophet receives front God is to be altered, unlefs that Prophet hath another Word from God revoking the former. As Abraham had : To whom God faith, XXII. Gen. a. Ta%e thy Son, &c/ and offer him for a. Burnt-offering, 8cc. But when he was going to do it, he heard that Command repealed,' v. n. Lay not thy hand upon the Lad, Sec. He would not receive a contrary Command from the Mouth of any Prophet^ but from the Mouth of God alone n From whom he received the firft Command. . Ee 2 Ver.ao* a,2 A COMMENTARY ufm Chapter Ver. 20. And it came to pafs, that as they fat at tht XIII. Table, the Word of the LORD came ta the Prophet that L^V*"VJ brought htm back."] God would not vouchfafe to fpeak Verfe 10- to him, who had difobeyed his Voice : But rather to the other, though in his Name he had feigned an Un- truth. Verfe 2 I. Ver. 21. And he cried unto the Man of God that came from Judah, faying?] He feems to be in a great Agony : From the Confideration of what he had done, and of what the Prophet from Jttdah^ was to fuffer. Thuf faith the LORD, for af much as thou. hatt difo- beyed the Month of the LORD> and haft not kept the Com- ntandment) which the LORD thy God commanded thee.] To difobey God's Mouth, was to difobey the Word fpoken by his Mouth. Verfe 22. Ver. 22. But cante ft ach and haft e ate* Bread **d driwkWaterintfa Place^ of which the LORD did fay to thee y eat no Bread, and dainJ^ no Water : thy Car- cafe fiall not come into the Sepulchre of thy Fathers."] This was all his Punifhment ^ that he mould (hortly die, and not be buried among the Jewe. Verfe 2 Ver. 22^,. And it came topafs^ after he had tat en Bread, And after he had drunk* that he fadled for him tf>e Aft }. fir the Prophet wham he had brought back.~\ It is remark- able that no Punifbment is here threatned to the old Prophet, for telling him & Lye. Becaufe, as Abarbinek thinks,, he meant no harm to the other Prophet ^ but fancied that his faying, he might not eat or drink, with them, was only to excufe himfelf from going wkh Jeroboam to his Houfe. And befuies, it might have turned to the great Advantage of the Prophet who came from Judith $. if he had ftedfaftly perfifted in his Refolution : And not given Credit to whatr the old Prophet faU againft it. Ver, 1., Firft Boo^of KIN G*S? Ver 24. And when he teat gone, A Lion met him by Chapter therey, and flew htm.'] Not far from Bethel there was XIII. a Wood ; out of which the two She-Bears came, that U^VXJ tare two and forty Children in pieces, 2 Kixgjll. 24. Verfe 24* Oat of which Wood, it is probable this Lion came, and flew this Prophet. And hfo Car cafe VMS caft in the way, and the Aft flood ' fyit 5 the Lion alfo flood by the Car cafe. ^ This was to admonifh all the Prophets to obferve God's Commands ftri&ly yand to (how Jeroboam what he might expect :; Since God fpared not a lefler Offender. But as God {bowed his Severity, in taking away this Prophet V Life, which was his Punifhment : So he remarkably fhowed his Approbation of the Prophet 5 in that the Lion ftood quietly by his Carcafe, and did not devour h; nor do any hurt to the Afs on which he rode. As if he was merely fent by a Divine Appointment,., to execute what God had tbreatned: But could not move one Step beyond that Commiffion. For when the Prophet had fuffered, what God intended, he takes even his dead Body into his Protection $ and would not let it be violated, as is obferved belowy, *. 28. Vcr. 25-. And behold^ Men faffed by^ ^^dfartrthe Carcafe caft in the way, and the Lionftanding by the C*r- cafe i and they came and told it fa tbeCrty^ where the old Prophet dwelt."] As a wonderful thing 5. that the Lion (hould neither fall upon his Prey, nor hurt tbera who parted by : But fuffered them to go on quietly. Ver. 26. And when the Prophet that brought from the way heard, thereof, he faid it if the. Man of God, that was difobedient totl&Wordoftbe LORD~\ Difobedience in great Cafes hath been thus punifhed by Men in Authority. For the Athenians put their to Death, whom they had fent into Ar~- 3 , 4 A COMMENTARY nfo* Chapter cadia, though they had performed their Bufinefs very XHF. well, to their Content, l-Trei iivpw &o P\.33v, ^ ty-sTV- r'juu TTfjo-TSTzz^/x^Jov, becaufe they came another way, and not that which they were prefcribed. Which is the very Cafe before us, fiLlian. Lib. VI. Var. Hiftor. C. V. Therefore the LORD bath delivered hint unto the Lion, who hath torn him andjlain him } according to the Word of the LORD which he foak? unto hint."] The Lion did not rend his Body in pieces, but only gave him one Wound which killed him. In the Hebrew the word is, he brokf him, that is his Bones, and fo flew him fpce- dily. Verfe ij. Ver. 27. And hefpake to bis Sons, faying, faddle me the Aft) and they faddled him~] Hearing the Lion ftood as quiet as a Lamb, and neither meddled with the Carcaie, nor hurt any that pafled by, he did not fear to take up the Body of the Prophet that came from J-udah: Believing the Lion had order to do no other Mifchief, but kill him. Verfe 28. Ver. 18. And he went, andfonnd his Car cafe caft in the way, and the Afs and the Lion ftanding by the Car- tafe : the Lion had not eat the Carcafe, nor torn the Ajs.~] Here is a clufter of Miracles, that the Lion, contrary to his Nature, did not eat the Carcafe, nor kill the Afs, nor meddle with the Travellers that pafled by, nor with the old Prophet and his Afs: And that the Afs ftood fo quietly, and was not frighted at the Sight of a Lion, and betake it felf to flight. And more than this, the Lion ftood by the Carcafe a long time, till this ftrange News was carried into the City . As a faithful Keeper of the Prophet's Body, that no other wild Beafts (hould meddle with it. Which made the Miracle more illuftrious i and plainly {bowed all this did not happen by chance. Ver. 29. the Fir ft Boo\ of KING- S. 3 , * Ver. 29. And the Prophet took up the Carcafe of f& Chapter Man of 'God , and Uid it upon the Afs, and brought it XIII. Lack ' And the old Prophet came into the City to mourn "^^v^*^ And to bury him7\ To make a folemn Funeral for Verfe 29. him. Ver. 30. And he laid his Carcafe in his own Grave."] Verfe 20. Which was the greateft Honour he could do him. And they mourned over him^ faying, alas my Brother?] He and his Sons made the ufual lamentation over him : Of which this was the form, we find, in after times, XXII. Jer. 18. Ver. 31. And it came top aft after he had buried hirrr^ Verfe "jt. that he fpake unto his Sons^ faying, when I am dead^ then bury me in the Sepulchre wherein the Man ofG&d if buried : lay my Bones befides his Bones.~] This he or- dered, not merely out of Affection to the Prophet, but to fecure himfelf from the Judgment that he had threatned, v. 2. Ver. 32. For the faying which he cried by the Word Verfe 32. of 'the LORD, again ft the Altar in Bethel, and againfl aU the Houfes of the high places that are in the Cities of Samaria [hall furely. come to pafs."] This Abarbinel looks upon as an Argument that this Man was a Prophet of the LORD ; that he foretold the fame thing that the Man of God who came from Judah^ did. And, as he thinks, fome:hing more, viz. the Deftruclion of all the high Places by Jtfah, which is not before men- tioned. Ver. 33. After this thing Jeroboam returned not from hx evil way. ~] By all thefe wonderful Works (for the fingular Number is put for the plural) Jeroboam was not at all changed : But continued in his Idolatry. And made again of the Ibweft of the People Priefts of Phe high Places.'] He did not reform in any one thing 5 but: ai A WD'MTXEWTJILT Chapter but ftili went on in making any Body Priefts. See XIII. XU.-3I. WVNJ Wbofoever would be confecrated bim^ and be be cams one of the Priefts of the high Placet.'] Without any Re- fpeft to his Tribe, or Family $ or indeed, to his Condition. Verfe 34. Ver. %$.Axd this thing became fn totheHovfe ofje~ roboam ; evett to cut it off, and deftroy it from the face of tfo Etrtb.]^ Erought dreadful Punilh- mcnts upon his Family (for fo Sin foraetimes fignifies, the Punifljment of Sin J And thefc not vulgar Punilh- -ments, but utter Extirpation. CHAP. XIV. v Vcrfe x. Vttfe i. A T thai time.'] Some time after ttiofe Woes jL\ were denounced again ft him $ but the Phrafe doth not denote any precife time. Abijab the Son of Jeroboam w0s/icki\ Being ftricken by the Hand of God, withfome Difeafe. Verfe z. Ver. 2. And Jeroboam f aid to hfrWife, arife, I praj -tbee* and difgttife thy filf."] Put on fuch Apparel, as the common People wear. That tbou le not known to be the Wife ofJeroboamJ] He would have ter go on this Errand, becaufe he was Cure flie would report things truly to him. But yet would not have her known to be his Wife, bccaufc he would nave the Prophet fpeak more freely and in- differently : Or, perhaps, he was afraid he (hould direatec coo heavily, if he knew who (he was. And the Firjt Book, of K I N G S. a 17 And get thee to Skiloh ^ behold there it the Prophet Chapter Ahijah, which told me Ifionld be Kitfg over this People. ~] XIV. This looks like great Stupidity ; that he fliould think L^*^\J to deceive a Prophet, who could tell him future E- vents: And therefore much more difcox'cr things prefent* Vcr.^. Andtake with thee ten Loaves ^and Crakptls,and Vcrfe 2. 4 Crufe of Honey : and go to him^ Ix fbatt tell tkee what fball become oftfx Child.~\ They that went to enquire of a Prophet, ufed to make him fome Prefent, as a Token of their Refpe& to him* See i Sam. IX. 7. and by foch Oblations the Prophets fupported thernfelves* This Prefent which fhe made him was of fuch things, as might make him think her to be a Country Wo* mao, rather than a Courtier. Ver. 4. And Jerobebo&ns IVife did fo, and dtofe^ Verf^ 4, and went to Shilob, and cawe to the Hoxfe of Ahifak : b*t Ahijah conld n*t fee, ftr hit Eyes ttere fet by reafo* of his Age7\ In the Hebrcv his Eyesftwdfir fat Hotrt- fiefs. He (eems to have had a Film, Or a Cataract grown over his Eyes. Ver. 5. And, the LORD faid wito Afajah, behM, Verfe 5. the Wife of Jeroboam cometb to a*k. a fht*% *f tbee for be* Soft, for he if fick.: th*t and tfat /halt then fay tfttte btr : for it jhaU be when Jbe cometk t& tbee, that fbefbaS feign kerfelft* bt another Womax^ He w^a&as fbflly tfr- ftrufted how to treat her, as if he had feen, and known her. Ver. 6. And it came topafs^ uphen Alnjah heard the Verfe 6. found of her F*e*, as [he came in at the door, that he faid^ come in thon Wife ofjenboam: Whj feign eft tbo* thy felfto be amther .a& right in mine Eyes.~\ Though David committed fome great Sins, yet he was upright in his Religion, and never darted afide in the Jeaft unto other gods. In which Piety God expected Jeroboam ftiould have continued, as he admonilhed him, when hefirft fent Ahijahto\\\m > XI. 38. , ^ en 9* B H * haft done evil above all that were before tbee."] King Saul was not fo bad ^ no nor Solomon : Who though he. was drawn afide himfelf, yet did not ftudy toroake his People Idolaters. For thou baft gone, and made thee other gods, and when Images^] Or, even molten Images $ that is, the Golden Calves. Which he did not think to be gods, but onely Reprefentatioas of God : And yet God looked upon this Worftwp which was paid to him be- fore thefe Images^ as the Worfhip of other gods : Which are called Devils, in the 2 Chron. XI. 15-. Te.provok* **e to anger.] That was the EfFe6fc of this Idolatrous Wor(hip. And, baft, c aft me behind thy back:"] Negle'dled me and my Service. For thofe things we caft behind our backs, which are nothing worth . And for which we have no regard or concern what becomes of Ver. 10* t the Firjt 3^ of KINGS, 2 ip Ver. IO. Therefore, behold, I wltt bring evil upon Chapter 'the Houfe of Jeroboam."] Severely punifh it. XIV. And will cut off from Jeroboam htm that pijfith againft ^~^~*^ the Walt.~] That is, not leave a Man of his Family a- ^ er ^ e IO live, as Ralbag interprets it. See i Sam. XXV. 22. And him that is flint />, and left in Ifrael.'] That is, married, or unmarried, as de Diett expounds thefe. words upon XXXII. Deut. 36. all forts of Men, of whatfoever State or Condition they be. Others refer this, to Treafures (hut up in fecret Places, and to Flocks left in the Field : Or, to Men taken Captive, or that have efcaped. As much as to fay, there (hall be an Univerfal Deftru&ion. And thus Bochartvt glofles (comprehending all thefe) I will cut off every Male, whether he be A Captive $ or a free. Man ^ whether he live in the City, or in the Country $ be married or (ingle. See his Hkrozoicon, P. I. Lib. II. Cap. LVl. And I will take aw4y the Remnant of the Houfe of Je- roboam.'] All his Pofterity. As a. Man tak$th away Dung^ till it be aff gone."} Which Servants remove fo carefully, that they fuffer not the leaft fpeck to remain. Ver. II. Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the City frail Vtlte n* the Dogs eat 5 and him that dieth in the Fidd /hall the Fowls of the Air eat."] That is, none of them (hall be buried. For the LORD hatkfioken it."] This is God's irre- vocable Decree. Ver. 12. Arife thott therefore, get thee nnto ^wVerfe 12. Heufe, and when -thy Feet enter the City, the Child jhall die?] This was a fign that all the reft of his Threat- ning mould be fulfilled. Ver. 13. And aJlIfraelJhattmottrn for him, and bury Verfe I J> -: for he only of Jeroboam {hall come to the grave."} Ffa All aao A COMMENTARY upon* Chapter All the reft were to be buried in the Bowels of Dogs, XIV. and of Fowls of the Atr, z>. ix. L/"V*\J Becaufe in hint if found fortte good thing toward the LORD God of 'Ifi ad ** the Houfe of Jeroboam.] He was the only Perfon of that Family that difliked the Worfhip of the Calves, and perhaps intended to remove them when he had Power . And fuflfer the People to go up to Jerufalem to worfhip, trufting God would pre- ferve him in his Kingdom. Some of the Jews fay, that he broke down a Hedge which his Father had made, to keep People from going up to J-entfalem, at the three great Fcafts. Verfe 14. Ver. 14. Moreover the LORD Jhaff raife him ttp a King over Jfracl> whofhaRcnt off the Houfe of Jeroboam.'} Thts King was Baafta, XV. 27, a 9. That day^\ As foon as he was made King, v. 29. B*t what .& no Peace to him that went in > or to him that came out^ &c. And he fhull root up Ifrael out of thjf good Land, which he gave to their Fathers.'] Which he began to do firft by Ttglath-PileferYAng ofAjffirla, 2 Kings XV. 29, And then ffniihed it by Shalmanefer r 2 Kings XVlf. 5, 6, ttk. And fbatt fcttter them beyond the River.] That is* Euphrates . They being carried (as the fore-named Places tell us) into the Country ot the Medes. Becaufe they have made their Groves?] Iff which they placed the Images of their gods, For they were not contented with the Calves, but fell to grofler Idolatry^ which was commonly pra&ifed in Groves. See III. Judges 7. Provoking the LORD to anger. ~\ For nothing was fo detefhble to him, as this Sin. Ver. 1 5. AndhejhaBgive Ifrael /f Into the hands Verfe 16. of the Heathen. Becaufe of the Sins of Jeroboam^ who didjtn % and who made Ifraelto fin^ Perverted the whole Nation: Who by hrs Aurhority^ and Example were led into Idolatry. Ver. 17. And Jeroboam** Wife arofe and deparUd. and came to Tirzak.~[ A City in the Tribe of Manaf- feh.~ Which had been famous in ancient Times (Xlk fofi. 24.) and became the Royal Seat, and continued fo.- A CO MMENTART upon Chapter fo f r f me time (XV. 33.) being found more ronve- XIV. nient, I fuppofe, than Schechevt where Jero-^am 'irft And when foe came to the Threfiold of the door, the Child died ] It feems the King's Houfe was near the Gate of the City:. For it is faid, v. 12. that as foon as (he entred into the City, the Child ftiould die. And fo it did, when (he came to the Threftiold of the Door of the Palace. "Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And they luried hint, and allJfrael mourned for hint) According to the Word of the LORD, which he fyake by the hand of hif Servant Ahijah the Prophet^] Whereby he confirmed all the reft of his Threatnings agaihft the Houfe of Jeroboam and the People of If- rael. 'iVcrfe 9. Ver. 19. And the reft of the Atts of Jeroboam, how he warred^ and how he reigned.] How he behaved him- felf in War, and in Peace.' Behold^ they are written in the Bool{ of the Chronicles of the Kings of Ifrael.] Not in that Book in the Bible, called Chronicles : But in fuch a Book as that wherein the Ads of Solomon were recorded. Day by Day, XI. 41. See there. 2O. ^ er< 20< ^nci the days that Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty Years, and he Jlept with hif Fathers^ andNadab his Son reigned in his Stead."} His fleeping with his Fathers, feems to be a Phrafe fignjfying only, that he xlied, as all before him did . Not that he was buried with them (as it is faid of Rehoboam, v. 51.) for they were private Men, and he a King $ who, no doubt, was magnificently interred by his Son. 21. ^ er * 2I * ^* Rehoboam the Son of Solomon reigned In Judah : Rehoboam was forty and one Tears old when he began to reign.'} And therefore was born a Year be- fore the Fitfl Book, of K ING 5. fore Solomon <:ame to the Crown : For he reigned but Chapter forty Years, XI. 42. XIV. And he reigned feventeen Tears in Jerufalertt, the Cit) which the LORD had chofen out of all the Tribes of If- raelj to put his Name there.] A great Honour to him $ of which he was not worthy: And therefore God fhortned his Days, and did not let him reign folong as Jerobaam. And hif Mothers Name roas Naamah an Ammont- tefs.~] It is much that David mould fuffer Solomon to marry one of this Country : Unlefs (he was profely- ted as the Daughter of Pharaoh is fuppofed to have been. He himfelf indeed had married the Daughter ofTalmai King ofGe/jftr'^ but the Son he had by her proved fo wicked, that it might have been aCau- t/on to him not to marry his Son, efpecially him he intended for the Heir of his Crown to a Stranger, Who if (he- was profelyted, yet many think (he did not fo change her Religion, but that (he inftilled ill Principles into her Son and corrupted him. Nay, was one of thofe Women that inticed Solomon to Ido- latry : For Women of Ammon are reckoned among . his ftrange Wives. Ver. 22. And Jttdah did evil in the fight o LOJRD, and they provoked him to Jealoufy, with their Sins which they had com#titted.~] By joyning other gods together with him. Which is an amazing thing, that at the Beginning of his Reign Rehoboam mould do well for three Years ( 2 Chron^l. ij.) and thenfor- fook the Law of God (2 Chron. XII. i.J a d fell off from his Worihip, into fach Grofs Idolatry, as ex- ceeded that of Jeroboams. Above all that their Fathers had done.~] Abovcr all that had been .-pnt&ifed in the time of the Judges. A c M M E N T ^ K, T nfm Chapter Ver. 23. For ttxy alfo built then high Pl*ces> XIV. Imagtt) and Groves on every high Hiff 9 and under eve- t^VNJ ry green Tree.'] They multiplied Altars on every high Verfe 23. Hill 5 and fet up Images* and built Temples for them : Which I take to be meant by Groves. For they could not be under every green Tree } nor could they be faid to be #//*, but to be planted : Therefore it is reafonable to interpret them Temples, or Places of Divine Wor (hi p. As among the Heathen Strabo teftifies (Geograph. Lib. IX.) that the Poets called their Temples by the Name of Groves (<*Aw >&hSmv TO ftgjc ;7s7*) though they had no Trees about them; becaufe the Cuftom was to have Trees planted about ^heir Sacred Places* In which the Jfr*elit the reft of the Aflj of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not witten in the Bool^ of the Chronicles of the Kings ofjudah.~] He refers thofe that defired a larger Account of him, to> the publick An- italt^ as he had done when he concludes the Hiftory of Jeroboam, v. 19. See there. Verfe 30. Ver. 30. And there was War between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their daysJ] This doth not feem to agree with what we read, XII. 22. where God commanded Reho&oam and his People not to go to fight with If- rael : And they obeyed his Voice. But this iseafily fatisfied, by obferving that the Jews were commanded not to make War upon the Israelites ^ but they are DOt the Firft Book, of KINGS. 2*7 not commanded not to defend themfelves, if the ffra- Chapter elites made War upon them. And this was their XIV. Cafe: The Ifraelites vexed them with continual In- ^V**^ curfions and Depredations .-Though the Houfe of DA- vid did not aflault them, but only repel their Vio- lence. Or, perhaps upon the Borders, they were continually endeavouring to get ground, one of ano- ther : Though they never came to a fet Battle. Ver. 31. And Rehoboam Jlept with his Fathers, and Ver fe 31. was buried with his Father in the City of David : and his Mothers Name vpasNaavtdh, an Ammonite fs.~\ The Repetition of this about his Mother hath fomething remarkable in it (See v. xi.) though it is hard to know what it is. Atarbinel thinks, it is as much as to fay, he did not repent at laft : JBut as he lived, fo he died, in the Idolatry of his Mother. And Abijartt his Son reigned in htsftcad. CHAP. XV. Verfe i'TV"T0 W ** the eighteenth Tear of King Jero- Verfe I, I_^l to Am the Son of Nebat, reigned Abijam over Jndah.'} Which feems to difagree with what is faid below, ^.9. concerning Afa^ that he began to reign the twentieth Year of Jeroboam, and Abijartt reigned three Years. But it is ufual both in Scripture^ and in other Authors, to reckon part of a Year, for a whole Year. So Abijam began to reign in fome part of Jeroboams eighteenth Year 5 and continued his Reign the whole nineteenth 5 and died in the twen- tieth . And fo was reckoned to have reigned three Years, as it here follows. G g a Ver. a. Chapter Ver. 2. Three Tears reigned he in Jerttfalem^] XV. was a very (hort time, as Akarhnel obferves : But it L/^VSJ was becaufe he walked in the way of his Father ^ Verfe 2. which provoked God to cut him off. And hff Mothers Name was Maacah the Daughter of AlijhatoM~] The fame Author fancies (he was the Daughter of Abfalom fas he is called 2 Chron. XI. xi.) who rebelled againft his Father David 5 and fo was a bad Daughter of a bad Father. She is called by ano- ther Name, 2 Chron. XIII. ^. viz. Mi chat ah the Daugh- ter of Uriel. But he thinks that is the Name of the Family, and this her proper Name. Others think this a mere Fancy, and with great Reafon ; For Abi- fhalont is a different Name from Abfatom, as David's Son is always called. And they think he had two Names, as his Daughter aWb had. But PellrcantM feems to me to have given the plaineft Account of this, that Maachah was his Grandmother, and Micaiah his Mo- ther. Tcrfe . Ver. 3. And he walked in all the Sins of his Father ^ which he had done before hi/x.~] See XI V. 22, 29, 24. And h& Heart mas, not perfe& with the LORD hjf God, as the Heart of David his Father."] They ought alt to have remembred David, and trod in his Steps 5 who was the Founder of the Royal Family . And never turned afide to the Worftrip of other gods, as this Man did $ though together with them he worfhipped the LORD God oflfrael^ who is therefore catted the- LORD -hif God. Ver - 4- Neverthelefsfor David's fake, the LORD hif God gave him a Lamp in Jentfalem^ to fef up his Son- after hiat.~\ He continued the Kingdom in the Pofte- rity of David: Which is the meaning of giving him- See. XL 6.. Fir/I BboJ( of KIN G- ft to eftablifl) Jentfalem.'] Whereby Jerufalem was Chapter eftablifbed as the Place of God's Worftiip. XV. Ver. 5. Becaufe David did t hat which was right in the IX^^N Eyes of the I>0/?D, and turned not afide front any thingV&fo 5; that he commanded him* all the days of his -Life $ fave- only in the matter of TJrrjah tfie Hittite.~] He was not without other Sins $ but none fo enormous as this: And therefore nor/remembred, as this about Uriah is-, very often, to his Dilhonour. Ver. 6. And there was War between Reholaam axd*Vttk &- Jeroboam all the days ofhif Life.~] This was faid before, XIV. 30, and therefore may feem to come in here im- pertinently : Becaufe he is not fpeaking of Rehoboam^ but of his Son Abijam: Who was a valiant young' Wan in the days of his Father, and always fought his Battles with Jeroboam. Which -being- related before in the Hiftory of Rehoboam- is-here repeated^ as-Abar-* binel thinks^ to (how that Abijam was the Caufe of- thefe Wars. And thefe words, aUhfadays, he thinks, . relate to Abijam^ who continued the War bet ween- his v Father and Jeroboam with great Succefs : As we read* ^.Chron. XIII. 17. Rochartut -thinks a plainer Account r may be given of this, by fuppofing that Rehoboam- fignifies this Son of his: Children and Fathers being*: one and the fame in a Moral Account. Thus Abraham is faid to have purchafed the Sepulchre of theSons oft Emor v which was irkieed purchafed by Jacob .-.: And I the Ifiaelite* fay to Rehoboam* (XII. i^.) Whac Por- tion have we in David? That is-, \n*Rehoboam* the-- Grand-child of David. In like manner he-- think* it? may be >faid , there v>a* War between- Reheboavt and Jsro* * boam, that isv~ between *Abi}am~ the> Son of Rehofoam^ and Jeroboam* Whom> Abijam grievoufty- afliu^ed , . Hierozoicott, P. L Lib- II. Cap. XLIID 3K>tleem . to be. the; true: Account 3 J>ecanfe:tlik> A COMMENTARY *po* Chapter between Abijam and Jeroboam is diftinftly mentioned XV. in the next Verfe. Therefore the meaning of thefe t^V%j words is, that though God was pleafed, for David's fake, who walked uprightly before him, to continue a Lamp, that is, a Succeflbr to him in ferttfalem : Yet theie Succefibrs were vexed with continual Wars fas appeared both in the Reign of Rehoboam and of Abi- jatajand did not enjoy their Kingdom peaceably. Verfe 7. Ver. 7. Now the reft of the Afts ofAbijam, and aU that he did,, are they not written in the Boo\ofthe Chro- nicles of the Kings of 'Judah ?~] See XI. 41. Ezra faith they were recorded in the Book of the Prophet Iddo^ 2 Chron. XIII. 22. from whence he took what he thought fit. And then was War between Alijam and Jeroboam."} He continued the War, which had been between his Father and Jeroboam } and managed it very glorioufly, as Ezra (hows in the Book of the Chronicles. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And Abijaw flept with hit Fathers, and they buried him in the City ofDavid, and A fa his Son reign- ed in hjfftead. Ver. 9. In the twentieth Tears of Jeroboam King of Ifrael, reigned Afa over Jttdah^] In fome part of that Year. See *u. 2. Verfe io. Ver. 10. And one and forty Tears reigned he in Jertf- falent, and his Mother's Name was Maacah the Daugh- ter of Abijhalom^ This was the Name of his Grand- mother ^ who is called his Mother as Roguel is called the Father ofjethro's Daughters (II. Exod. 18.) when he was their Grand-father. Which Example Kimchi here aliedges to explain this. And thus Abarbiml: The Senfe is not that Maachah brought forth Afa (for (he was his Father's Mother) but (he brought him up and gave him his Education. Which made his Piety the more remarkable, that he was not tainted with her the Firft BooJ^ of K I N G S. 231 her Principles of Religion as his Father was. But Chapter why his Mother mould not be mentioned, but his XV. Grand-mother, which was not at all needful (becaufe ^^v^ it was evident by what was faid before that Maachah was the Mother of Abijam his Father) is unaccounta- ble. And therefore others think that this was the Name of his Mother: Which was the fame, as her Fathers alfo was, with that of Abijam s. Ver. II. And Aft did that which was right in f^Verfe n fight of the LORD, as did David hfc Father."] He made him his Pattern: Wormipping the LORD alone 3 and taking away all Idols, as it here follows. Ver. ix. And he took, way the Sodomites out of theVtlk 12. Land, and removed aU the Idols that his Father had nade."] Of which fee XIV. 23, 24; But ftill fomefe- cretly remained : And therefore when it is faid ht re- moved all Idols, the meaning is all that he could dif- cover 5 for fome lurked privately, XXII. 46. Ver. 13. And alfo Maacak his Mother, even her J&eVerfe 13. removed from being gueenl] He took away her Guards, and all the Enfigns of Royal Dignity : And reduced her to the Condition of a private Perfon. But the word being is not in the Hebrew which others tran- flate, he removed her from the >ueen. That is, from his Wife$ that (he might not be infefted with her Ido- latry. He put her therefore out of the Court, where (he gave a bad Example. Becaufe (he had made an Idol in a, Grove. ~] The word we tranflate Idol, is Mhhlezeth, which imports fomething of Terror and Horror : Either becaufe it was of a frightful Afped 5 or brought dreadful Judgments upon its Worfhippers. S. Hierom under- (lands by it Priapus, or Baal-Peor, to whom the Wo- men were much devoted. Theodoret takes it forAftarte or Venus: And indeed in the Northern Countries Priape* , 2 3? A CO MMENTARY ufon Chapter Prtapw and Venus were painted together, as Johait. 1C V. Gen/tut obferves in his Book de Viftimis Humanis^ P. L Cap. IX. Whatfoever it was, it was placed in a Grove: In which fhady Places all the Works of Darknefs, even Sodomy it felf, were pracYifed. Aft deft rayed her Idol, and burnt it by the Brool^ Ki- drox.~] He cut it down, and having burnt it, ftampt it to Powder } and then threw it into the Brook Ki- dron : As Mofes did with the Golden Calf. \\XIL Exod. 20. See 2 Chron. XV. 1 6. .14. Ver. 14. But the high Places were not removed $ ne- verthelefs Afa htf Heart was ferfeft with the LORD U hfr dajs.~] He did take away all the high Places, wherein they facrificed to ftrange Gods } (2 Chron. -XIV. 3.) but not thofe wherein God alone was wor- (hipped: For his Authority was not great enough to do this $ the People having fo univerfally and folong taken this Licenfe $ that none durft attempt to abo- jimthis inveterate Cuftom till the Days of Hezefah: Who feeing the Calamities that were coming upon his Country, indeavoured to prevent them, by a tho- rough Reformation. But though Afa did not ven- ture to d this, yet his Heart was fincerely affefted to the right WorQup XV. as appears from v. 28. and 33. LXVNJ Ver. 26. And he did evil in the Sight of the LORD, Verfe 26. and walked in the way of hit Father , and in his Sin, wherewith he made Ifrael to fn.~] By the Worfhip of the Golden Calves. Verfe 27. Ver. 27. And Baafia the Son of Ahijah of the Houfe of J/achar.'} That is, of a Family in the Tribe of I/a- char. Cwfpired againft him, and Baafha fmote him at Gib- bethon^ which belonged to the Philiflines (for Nadab, and alllfrael laidjiege to Gibbethon."] It was a City in the Tribe of Dan, XIX. Jofh. 44, and given to the Le- vites, XXI. 23. who quitted it, as they did the reft of their Cities, when 'Jeroboam would not fuffer them to execute their Office (i Chron. XI. 14.) and the Phili- ftines it is likely feized upon it, being adpyning to their Country. But Nadab now endeavoured to re- cover it out of their hands, as of right belonging to him. Verfe 28. Ver. 2 8. Even in the third Tear of Afa King of Judah did Baajha flay him^ and reigned in htf flead.'} What was the Pretence for this Con fpi racy we are not told.* But it is likely he had many )oyned with him in it r Otherwife it had not been eafy to flay him, when he was in the midft of his Army before Gibbethon. ^ er> *9* And, it came topafs^ when he reigned^ that he f mote alt the Hottfeofjeroboam y he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had deftrojed him, according to the faying of the LORD, which hefyake by Akijahthe Shilonite*] His Intention was not to fulfil this Pro- phecy (mentioned XIV. ia) but to fecure himfelf in his ufurped Throne: By cutting off all that had anjr to it. Bat by this mean^God ful&lled his own Injtemions-5, the Firft Boo^ (/KINGS- 237 Intentions 3 and that as fpeedily as Ahijah the Pro- Chapter phet had foretold, XIV. 14. XV. Ver. 30. Betaufe of the Sins of Jeroboam which fa f tined, and which he made Ifrael to fin by his Provoca- Vcrfe tion wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Ifrad to anger."] Which caufed great Miferies in Ifrael 5 efpe- cially in the beginning of that Kingdom : When they reigned by force, not by Succeffion. Whereas in Jttdah the Son fucceeded the Father, by right of Elood, according to the Promife made to David. Ver. 31. Now the reft of the A&s of Nadab, And ally and by which they made Jfrael to fin, in provoking the LORD God oflfraelto anger, with their Vanities^ So the Golden Calves are called, being (as Forfterut well tranflates tfae word) Comttten- I i titia ^ COMMENTARY upon Chapter titia numina> gods of their own devifing. See i XVI. XII. 2 1. t/^/^SJ Ver. 14. Now the reft of the Afts of Elah, and att Verfe 14- that he did, are they not written in the Bool{.of the Chro- nicles of the Kings of Ifrael ?~] Here is no mention of bis Might (as there is of his Fathers, ^.5.) for he was, as I faid, a Man of Pleafure. Verfe 15. Ver. 15. In the twenty feventh Tear of Afa King of Jftdah did Zimri reign feven days in Tirzah : and the People were encamped againfl Gibbethon^ which belonged to the PhiliftinesJ] Which had been befieged many Years ago, when Baaflja flew Nadab,XV. 27. But was then relieved, or afterward retaken by the Philistines^ while the Ifraelites were in a diftra&ed Condition .- But now again inverted. Verfe 1 6. Ver. 16. And the People that were encamped heard fay, Zimri hath confpired t and hath alfojlain the King.] Had Succefs in his Confpiracy, and made hirafelf King. Wherefore all Ifraelwade Owri the Captain of the Hoft, King over Jfraelthat day in the Cawp.~] Juft as the Ro- man Army in after times, made their chief Comman- der Emperor. Verfe 1 7 Ver. 1 7. And Qntri went up from Gibbcthon, and all Ifrael with hiot^] All the Army that were at the Siege. And befieged Tirzah^} Where Z/*/r/, a more dan- gerous Enemy, was. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And it came to pafs, when Ziwri faw that the City was taken.] Which he was not able to defend, againft a powerful Army: From whom he fufpe&ed no Oppofition ^ but hoped they would have let him reign as quietly as they did Baafia. the Firft Boo^ of K I N G S. That fa went into the Palace of the Kings Hottfe."] Chapter Into the ftrongeft part of the Houfe. XVI. And burnt the Kings Houfe over him with Fire, and ^^V^*< died.'] He was afraid, I fuppofe, of fuffering fome (hameful Punifhment, if he had been taken alive 5 and therefore chofe to die defperately in this manner. So Sardanapalus ended his Life. Ver. 19. For his /ins wlrich he finned^ in doing evilVtrfc 19. in the fight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his fin which he finned, to make Ifrael tojinl} Though he lived but a very ftiort time after he ufurped the Crown, yet he gave fufficient Demon- ftration, of his Resolution to continue the Idolatry of Jeroboam : And therefore was abandoned by God Ver. zo. Now the reft of the Afts ofZimri^ and the Verfe zo. Treafon which he wrought, are they not written in the BooJ^of the Chronicles of the Kings of Ifrael ?~] It is like- ly, other Afts that he did before he confpired againft Elah, were recorded in that Book $ together with the manner how he wrought his Treafon. Ver. 21. Then were the People of Ifrael divided into Verfe a I. two partsJ] For when it is faid, v. 16. all Ifrael made Omri King in the Camp 5 the meaning is only the whole Army, and they that attended them. Half of the People followed Tibni the Son of Ginath to make him King7\ For they did not like to have a King impofed upon them by the Soldiery .- And Tibni had as good a Title as the other 5 being alfo a valiant Man : Who fucceeded Zimri perhaps in his Command, as Captain of half his Chariots. And half followed Owri.~] As already advanced to the Royal Dignity : And a greater Man than Tilni 5 being Captain of the whole Hoft. I i 2 Ver. 22. 244 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Ver. 22. And the People that followed Omri prevailed XVI. againftthe People that followed Tibni the Son ofGinath] L^V"SJ For Qmri had the Advantage of having the Army on Verfe 2 2. his fide. So Tibni died."] In this Civil War (into which they fell by God's juft Judgment upon them) many of the People, in all likelihood, died together with him. And Qmri reigned.'] Without Competitor. The Jews in Seder Olaw Rabba, whom #*/and others fol- low, fay it contributed much to his Advancement that Afa King of Judith married his Son Jebofiaphat to Om- ri his Daughter. For which they have no other ground, but that it is faid, 2 Chron. XVIIL i. he joyned in Affinity with Ahab* Verfe 23. Ver. 23. In the thirty and one Tear of Afa King of Jndah began Omri to reign over Ifrael^ twelve Tears.'] Thefe twelve Years of his Reign, are to be computed not from the thirty firft of Afa's Reign $ for i.t is evi- dent he began to reign in the twenty feventh Year of 4f a * v - T 5- anc * hi* Son began to reign in the thirty eighth Year of Afa, v. 29. Therefore the twelve Years arc to be computed from the beginning of Own his Reign: Which was, as I faid, the twenty feventh of Afa's* From which time (as Abarbind obferves) the Conte ft continued between Omvi and Tibni: Unto the thirty firft Year of King Afa. In the end of which Tibni died , and then Qmri reigned over all Ifrael, whereas he reigned but over half the People before. And Tibni being extinft, all the foregoing Years are accounted to Omri^ viz. from the begin- ning of Afas feven and twentieth Year , when Zimri died, to the end of this eight and thirty Year, which make twelve Years. Six Tears reigned he in Hrzah.] Half of his time he made this his Royal Seat : Which was, as fome think,, all the Fitfk Book^of KINGS. 245 all the time his Contention with Tibni lafted, and Chapter fome time after. XVI. Ver. 24. And he bought the Hill of Samaria, of She- L^^NJ mer^ for two Talents of Silver ^ and built upon the HilJ :Vttte 24. and called the Name of the City which he built after tht Name of Skewer, Owner of the Hill of Samaria."] The King's Roufe in Tirzah being burnt, as we read v. 18. he built a Royal Palace in this City, which he alfo built upon this Hill . And called it after the Name of him, who was the Owner of it before he bought it, viz. Shemer^ from whom it had the Hebrew Name of Shomeron. Which was ever after made the Royal Seat of the Kings of Ifiael. Ver. 15. But Omri wrought evil in the Eyes of the Verfe 25.. LORD, and didworfe than all that were before htm. ~] For he not only walked in the way of Jeroboam^ but, it is likely, began to introduce other Idolatries, which,,. his Son Ahah eftablifhed among them. Of, he com- pelled the People to worQiip the Calves $ and by fe- vere Laws reftrained the People from going up to Jer rufakm : Which, as fome think, are meant by the Sta~- tutes ofOmri, VI. Micah 16. V'er. 26. For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the Verfe a^U; SonofNebat^ and in his fin wtierewith he made Ifrael to Jin -, to provoke the LORD God of Ifr-ael to anger with their Vanities.'] Though he had feen Elah, and the whole Houfe of Baaffia deOroyed by his Predeceffor for their Idolatry, and Zimri himfeif perilhtd in the fame Sin (v. 13, 19.)' yet he perfifted in their Ini- quity, and brought down the Wrath of God upon him, and upon his Family, as the foregoing Kings/- had done, Ver. 27. Now the reft' of the Atfs of Omri which he ^ Verfe; 2'^?. did) and his Might , which he foewed, are they not writ- ten in the Book, of the, Cfoonkhs of the Kings of jfrael "}- A COMMENT ART upon Chapter It feems he was a valiant Man, which Elah was not : XVI. Concerning who fe Might there is no mention, as IX"VNJ J noted upon v. 14, Verfe 28. Ver.28. So Omriflept with hif Fathers, and was bu- ried in Samaria.'] Which now began, as I faid, to be the Royal City of the Kingdom of Ifrael, as Jerufa- lem was ofjttdah. And Ahab his Son reigned in hisftead.'] Who was fo eminent upon feveral Accounts, that we have a long Account of him, in the following part of this Book. Verfe 29. Ver. 29. And in the thirty eiehth Tear of Afa King of Judah, began Ahab the Son of(Jmri to reign over Ifracl 5 and Ahab reigned over Ifrael in Samaria twenty and two Tears.'] In this fpace of time Afa faw fix Kings of If- rael buried 5 whilft Jttdah flouriQied under one and the fame King : Which no doubjt was a great Advan- tage to them. Verfe 30. Ver. 30. And Ahab the Son of Omri did evil in the Sight of the LORD, above all that were before him."\ Was more idolatrous than his Father Omri : For he brought in the Worftiip of Baal ("as it follows in the next Verfe) that is, of the Sun and of all the Hoft of Heathen. Verfe 31. Ver. 31. And it came to pafs, as if it had been a light thing to him to walk^ In the way ofjero&oam the Son of Nebat.~] He was not fatisfied with the Worfhip which Jeroboam had invented, though highly difplea- fing to God. For fo the words are in the Hebrew, was it a light thing 2 As much as to fay, it was a moft heinous Crime $ and yet Ahab refolved to be more wicked. For Jeroboam did not quite forfake the LORD God of Ifrael, but worfhipped him by a Re- prefentation of his own Invention : And this more out of Policy than any Love to this kind of Worfhip. But the Fir ft Bool^ of KINGS. 247 But Ahab out of pure Love to ftrange gods, forfook Chapter the LORD, without any fuch Reafon for it as Jero- XVI. loam had : The People being now fufficiently eftran- ged from Jerufalem. + That he took to Wife Jezabelthe Daughter ofEth-baal.] Called in profane Writers Jthobalut. King of the Zidonians.'] Who had been Old Ido- laters. And ferved Baal., and rporfoipped him."] That god whom the Chaldeans and Babylonians called Bel, the Phoenicians ("of whom the Zidontans were a partj called Baal: Which in Hebrew fignified Lord. Which anciently was the Name of the true God, as Mr. Sel- den obferves $ but when the World grew wicked was given to the Sun, by the Phoenicians. Who as Philo BiblJw tells us reputed the Sun to be /uavov X&K.VU Ssw, the only God of Heaven. And at laft this Name was given to other Stars, and to their dead Kings, whofe Memory was dear to them. And various Rites, Ce- remonies, and Sacrifices were devifed in their Honour, as that great Man obferves (Syntag. de Diis Syris ^ Cap. i.) who underftands thefe words of the Phoenician Belus or Baal, who was the very fame with the Euro- pean Jupiter : And Zidon being fituated on the Sea, their Baal was called by the Greeks the Sea Jupiter. So Hefychitff aAaaji(^, Zeus e^ 2t$$vi Tj/fcucTi, the Sea Jupiter if worfiipped at Si don. But our Mr. Mede is very confident, that the Bad whofe worfhip Jezabel brought with her from Zidotr, was a deify'd King of the Ph&nicians : As Baal was the firft King of Babel, who was deified after his Death. Whence all the Souls of Men who were canonized after Death, were called Baalim. See Boo^l. Difcourfe XLII. and hi* Apoftacy of the later times, P. I. Chap. III. Whence it came that there were not more Jupiters among the 248 A COMMENTAKT Hfon Chapter Europeans, than there were Baals among the Syrians. XVL And hence fo many Mountains, and Springs, and W~VXJ Woods, and Cities were called by the Name of Baal, when Jofiua conquered -Canaan : As Baal-Meott, Ba- ntoth-Baal^ Baal-Gad , Baai-lhamaTj Baal-Zephott, and many more. In which places no doubt Baalim were worlhipped, and from thence they had their Names. /erfe 32. Ver. 32. And he reared ttp an Altar for Baal, In the Hottfe of Baal, which he bad built in Sawaria.~\ He built a Temple for this god in the Royal City .- And fet up an Altar where hefacrificed to him. Which was more dire&ly to worfhip other gods, than Jeroboam did : Who pretended the Worftiip he performed to the Calves, was to the true God $ whom he honoured in them. Verfe 33. Ver. 33. And Ahab made a Grove."] Which was a- nother piece of Idolatry $ which God commanded to beabolifhed, VII. Dent 5. And Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of If- rael to anger, than all the Kings of Ifrael that were be- fore him."] In this Grove, it is likely, all manner of Impurities were prattifed : For Jezabel was a filthy Woman. Verfe 34. Ver. 34. In his days did Bid the Bethelite^] A Man that lived in the very Seat of Idolatry: And, it is likely, was deeply infefted with it. Build Jericho.~] A place which being under a Che- rem, was never to be rebuilt : Becaufe it was devoted to God As the firft Fruits of the Conquefts of Ca- naan. Which this Man either did not know (becaufe ignorant of the Law, which now was little read) or, was fo impious as not to regard the words of Joflma, believing no other God, but Baal' the Firji Eoo\ of K I N C S. He laid the Foundation thereof in Abiram hff firfl Chapter born, and fet up the Gates thereof in his youngeft Son Se- XVf. gnl> j according to the Word of the LORD, which he fyake by Joflwa the Son ofNun.~] But he found to his Coft, that the Sentence which Jo/hua pronounced againft the Rebuilder of this City proved true : For his eldeft Son died when he laid the firft Stone of it: And fo all the reft of his Children one after another, as tMe Building advanced; till at laft his youngeft Son died, when it was finifhed. A raoft remarkable Inftance of the Certainty of Divine Threatnings: And that God never forgets what he hath faid, but con- tinues alto always the fame. This Sentence being pro- nounced more than four Hundred and fony Years ago, and now fulfilled exactly in all its Circumftances: Which might have been a warning to the whole Na- tion, not to defpife the long Suffering and Patience of God } who though he had not yet carried them out of their good Land, according to the Word of Ahijahj XIV. 15. would certainly do it, if they con- tinued in their Impenitence. CHAP. xvir. Chapter XVII. Verfe i. \ND Elijah the Tifobite^ The Care ofVerfe _L\ God over this People (as I noted be- fore) was fo great, that ra every King's Reign, from the firft to the laft, there was one or more Prophets to inftruft, admonifh, and correct them. And now in the Reign of Ahab (when there was the greateft need of it) God raifed up an extraordinary Prophet far exceeding all others, whom Abarbinel calls the K k Prime a$o A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Prtnce of the Prophets, next unto Mofes. WhofeOri- XVIL gnal being not known (for here is no mention of his Father or Mother) fome of the Jews have fancied him to have been an Angel fent from Heaven to reduce them to the true Religion. So Abarbinel relates, upon the Book of Judges, as Job. Frifchmuthw obferves, in a Diflertation about Elijah. Whofe Name, which in the Hebrew is Elijabn^ carries fomething Divine in it Being compounded as JEgid. Ctmanuf imagines, of three of the Names of God, viz. Eli, and Jab, and HH. There is no doubt, the two firft are the Names of God, but there is reafon to queftion the laft, though a great Man of our own Ednt. Caftetttrt in his Polyglot Lexicon doth put Hu. among the Divine Names, and fo do the Gabbalifts. He was indeed a very Eminent Meffenger of God, fent to call the Jf- raelites to Repentance.- From whence our Learned Dr. Lightfoot thinks he had the Name of This bite : From the Hebrew Word Shub^ which fignifies to re- turn $ for he was fent to be the Converter of the Na- tion. See him upon I. St. Luke 1 7. Other Conje- ftures there are about this name, which Prifibmuth hath colJe&ed : And Dhny/iw Petavius hath delive- red his Opinion about it, upon Epipbanius (H&rif*. LV. N. %..) who faith Elijah was ** hglw of the Priefts, and Grandfon to Zadok; But Kimchi feems to have given the plaineft account of this Name of Tbijhbite, from Thesbe a Town or Region where he was born : Juft as Ahijah is called the Shilonit^ from Shilo where he was born, or dwelt*. Who was of the. Inhabitants of Giliad.~\ It is not cer- tain, that be was a Native of this Country :< But on- ly that he came, and fetled among the GiUadites; being bora as, fome think, in the Tribe of Benjaatin-, though the Firfl Book, of K I N G S, 35 1 though moft rather arc of Opinion, in the Tribe of Chapter Gad. XVH. Said unlo Ahab, at the LORD liveth^ before whom U^r^J Iftand) there fyall not be Den>, nor Rain thefe Years, but according to my word.~] To make his words the more regarded, he fwore folemnly by the Eternal God, whofe Minifter he was (for that's meant by /landing before him) and to whom he had prayed, that there mould be no Moifture from the Clouds for three Years and an half enfuing ^ unlefs it was by his Prayers. Thus St. James teaches us to expound thefe words, thefe Tears : V. James 17. And Abarbinel makes out the Connexion of this Chapter with the foregoing in this manner. Elijah admonimed Ahab to lay to heart the Punilhment of Hiel the Bethelite .-" Saying, fear the LOR.D left he be angry with thee. as he was with Hiel, for breaking his Command. But Abab defpifed his Admonition, and faid $ that was a Chance : For you fay we are all Idolaters, and yet the threatningin the Law ofMofes (\\.Deut. 16,17.) is not come upon us. Whereupon Elijah in a great anger faid, as the LORD liveth there JhaU be no Dew, 8cc. Which Story is told, with more Circumftances in the Talmud. Ver.2. And the Word of the LORD came to A/XVerfe 2. faying.'] The King being incenfed at this Threatning, God took care to fecure Elijah from his Fury, by the following Direction. Ver. 3. Get thee hence."} For hefaw that Ahab in-Verfe 3. tended to lay hold of him. And turn thee Eaftward, and hide thyfclfby the Brook^ Cherith that it before 'Jordan.'] This Brook Bochartw takes to be the fame with Kana mentioned by Jofiua XVI. 5. XVII. 9. So called from the Plenty of Rced f Kk 2 (for a$2 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter (for Kana fignifies a Reed} in which the Prophet lay XVII. hid, while he flayed in this Place. L/"V"NJ Ver. 4. And it fiall be that thon fialt drink^ of the Ver(e 4, Br&ok^ $ and I will command, the Ravens to feed thce there!"] This feems fo ft range, that fome will have the word Orebim not to fignify Ravens^ but Mer- chants: Becaufe they find the word Orele in XXVIF. Ezek> 17. fignify ing Merchants that traded in the Market of Tyre. But as Bochartuf hath obferved, they are never called fimply Orebim. Nor is their Opini- on better, who think Arabians to be here meant : For there were none thereabout $ and Elia*. his lurking place would foon have been difcovered to Ahab^ if Merchants or any other People that travelled that way had been acquainted with it. Wemuft therefore acknowledge a miraculous Care which God took of Elijah^ as all the Ancients do, none excepted. See Bochartuf'm his Hierozoicon^ P. 2. Lib. 2. Cap. XIII. Nor did fuch- things feem incredible to the Heathen : Who tell us as ft range Stories. For Example, that 3&/>//, becaufe there had been no Rain.'] .in the He- brew it is, at the end of Days? that is, of a Year : As that Phrafe, I have (hown is often ufed. Ver. A COMMENTARY KJ>O Chapter Ver. 8. And the Word of the LORD came to him, XVIJ. fiyi*g, .L/*V*W Ver. 9. Arife, get thee to Zarephatb^ which belongeth Verfe 8. to Zidon, and dwell there.'] ft was a Place between Verfe 9. Tyre m&Zidon-^ but belonged to the Territory of the latter : And (o was not in the Land of Ifrael, but in- habited by Gentiles. Behold, I have commanded a Widow Woman thereto fuflain thee.~] He had appointed anddifpofed her, juft as he did the Ravens, z/. 4. For (he had no Com- mand from God for it (it appears from v. n,) and this was an extraordinary Providence, that a poor Widow, and a Gentile (hould fupport him : Though in all likelihood, (he was not a Stranger to the true Religion, but a pious Woman of another Nation. ''Verfe IO. Ver. 10. So he arofe, and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the Gate of the CVVy, iehold the Widow Woman was there gathering Sticks."] Which (hows (he was but in a poor 'Condition. And he called to her andfaid, fetch me I pray thee a little Water in a. Veffel, that / may drinl^] For he knew by a Divine Infpiration, this was the Woman that was to Curtain him. Verfe 1 1. Ver. 1 1. And as fie was going tofetchit."] This (hows (he was a good Woman : Being ready to fuccour a Stranger. He called unto her and faid^ bring me I pray thee a Morfel af Bread in thy hand.~] Which was very natu- ral to defire, having asked tor Water . But he faid it to move her to acquaint him with whar follows. Verfe 12. Ver. 1 2. Andjhefaid^ as the LORD thy God liveth.} By this it appears (he knew the LORD God of Ifrael $ and that Elijah was a Prophet : Or at leaft, one of his Worflhippers. I have the Fir ft Boo\ of KIN OS. / have not a Cake, but an handful of Meal in a Bar* Chapter ret, and a little Oyl in a Crufe, and I am. gathering two XVII Sticks. ] By two Sticks is meant a few : As /# but make me a little Cake thereof firft, and bring it unto me :. and after that make for tbee^ and for thy bon."] A very hard Com" mand : Whereby he tried her Faith and Obedience. Ver. 14. For thus faith the LORD God of Ifrael, Barrel of Meal fha/J not veafte 5 ne/t her /hall the Crttfe of Oylfail, until the day that the LORD fend Rain on the Earth."] Tbis was a Miracle, which they that were not. Chriftians, did not think incredible; As Huetiitf (hows in the fame Book, and Chapter above-mentio- ned, v. 4. Vcr. 15. And/he went and did according to the Say- ing of Elijah^] By which it is evident that (he trufted in the LORD God of Ifrael. And /be, and he, and her Hottfe did eat many daytJ] ; Some by many ^/ understand a full Year . As it is in the Margin. But it rather fignifies two Tears .-For one Year was pa ft before he came from the Brook Cerith (See Vij-f) And therefore they lived up9n this Meal - and Oyl, two Years more, till the end of the Fa- ^ trwne. Ver. 1 6. And. the Barrel of Meal, wafted not^ nei did the Crttfe of Ojl fail t according to the Wordwfth* A COMMENTARY upon Chapter LORD which hefyakt by Elijah."] But what they took XVII. out for their daily life: Was immediately fupplied v/V"NJ by the Power of God. Verfe 17. Ver. 17. And it came to pafs after thefe things^] Af- ter this Demand ration of the Power and Goodnefs of God. That the Son of the Woman, the Miftrtfs of the Hottfe fell fii\, and Iris Sicfaefs was fejore, that there was no Breath left in blm.~\ He expired and died. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And fie f aid unto Elijah what have I to dt withthcc, thoH Man ofGod?~] Some take the mean- ing to be, Wherein have I offended thce ? But the fol- lowing words feem to imply, that in a great Agony of Spirit, (he askt him wherefore he came to her Houfe, if this were his Intention. Art thon come to call wy Sins to Remembrance^ and to flay my Son?] This fhe thought was hard to requite his Entertainment at her Houfe, with fuch a Punilh- ment for her Sins. For then Sins are faid to be called to Remembrance before God, when he puni flies them. "Verfe 19. Ver. 19. And he faid unto her, give me thy Son.~] He reached out his hands, and bid her put him into his Arms. And he took^ him out of her BofowT] It feems he was but a little Child: Who the Jews think, afterwards proved a Prophet, viz. Jonah. And carried him up into a Loft where he abode."] The LXX. tranflate it Osrg^cv ^ an upper Room: Which he had to himfelf for his Study, Meditation, and Prayer^ as -Elf/ha afterwards had in another place, ^ Kings IV. 10. And laid hint upon hif own Bed.] By this it appears it was a private Room, where he lodged. Ver. 20. the Firjt B0o\ BRINGS. 257 Ver. 20. And he cried unto the LORD."] Prayed Chapter moft earneftly. XVII. And fa/d, my God^ haft thou brought evil upon the IXWJ Widow with whom I fojourn, by flaying her Son . nor the Calves. Efpecially fincehe did not (we may well think) go up to Jeru- falem to worfhip^ with which Defect God was plea- fed to difpcnfe, as Ahab did with his Rtligion. Ll 2 Ver. 4. A COMMENT A RT upon Chapter Ver. 4. For it was fo when Jezabel cut of the Prophets XVIII. of the LORD.'] There were Schools of the Prophets* CXV"SJ it is likely, ftill remaining in JJrael, unto her time . Verfe 4. But (he endeavoured to deftroy them, and thofe who were bred up in them ^ that there might be none to inftruft the People in the true Religion. For fuch, I fiippofe, are here meant } not thofe that were indued with the extraordinary Gift of Prophecy : For Elijah faith, z>.22. that he only was left a Prophet of the LOR.D$ though that may fignify no more, but that he knew of no Body befide. That Obadiah took^ an hundred Prophet / , And hid them hffty * n a C a ve-~] Which was an Aft of great Piety and Zeal : Whereby he hazarded his own Life. And fed them with Bread and Water.'] Sent them Meat and Drink privately every Day. Verfe 5. Ver. 5. And Ahab faid unto Obadiah go into all the Land) unto all Fountains of Water, and unto all Brooks ; Per adventure we may find Grafs to fave the Horfes, and frlttles alive $ that we lofe not all the Beaffs.~] Many were dead for want of Grafs, which he hoped they might find growing in fuch moift Places, enough to preferve the reft. Verfe 6. Ver. 6. And they divided the Land between them to pafs through it : Ahab -went one way by himfelf^ and Oba- diak went another way by hitnfdf^] Ahab would make this fearch himfelf, left it fhould not be done faith- fully by others.- Who might be perfwaded by Prayers and Intreaties, or the Prefents of thofe who had any Grafs, not to difcover tt. Only he trufted Obadiah. Verfe 7. Ver. 7. And as Obadiah went in the way, lehold^ Eli- jah met him. And he knew him^ and fell on hit Face, andfaid art thon my Lord Elijah.~] He (bowed by the profound Reverence he made to him, how much he honoured him. Ver. & tbt Ftrft Book^ of KINGS Ver. 8. And fie anfwered, lam. Go, tell thy LW, Chapter behalf t Elijah if here.^ The Prophet alfo approved XVIII. the Honour Obadiah did his Matter, whom he owned IXVXJ for his Lord) though he was a very wicked Man Vcrfe 8. (See 2;. 10.) For Kings, by their Office, are facred Perfons : And therefore are to be had in great Vene- ration (though bad Men) even by the High Prieft, and by the Prophets, who did not approach them, as the Jews obferve, without due Reverence. And it i* a famous Saying of R. Jedaiah, Do not dwell in a City^ where no Reverence or Fear if paid to the King. Ver. 9. And he faid, what have I finned^ that thou Verfe o. woitldft deliver thy Servant into the hand ofAhab, to flay me . It may be faid indeed, that there might be fuch Compa&s be- tween him and the Moabites^ Edomites, Ammonites^ and other Neighbouring Nations, that they (houid harbour none of his rebellipus Subje&s : And that if he*.' Chapter he required it, they (hould fwear they knew of none in XVIIf. their Country. But fuch a Treaty is Co uoufu'al, that U^W> I fee no reafon to fuppofe it. Vcrfc [I* Ver ii. And now tkon fayejl, go tcH thy Lord, be- hold, Elijah *r here. Verfe 13. Ver. 12. And it ft all come to pafs, as foon as I am gone from thee. that the Spirit oj the LORD (hall carry thee whither 1 know not.] Snatch thee away from hence, as fometimes the Prophets were fuddenly tranfported by an invifible Power to Places far diftant from that 'where they were at prefent, 2 Kings II. 16. III. Eze/$. 12, 14. VIII. A8s 39, 40. And, in all likelihood, there had been Inftances of it before this time.- Which made Obadiah fear, it might fallout fo in this Cafe. And when I come and tell Aha'b, and he cannot find thee, he jhallflay me.'} Becaufe he did not feize and fe- curc Elijah when he was in his Power .* But let him efcape. But I thy Servtnt fear the LORD from my Youth. ~\ Therefore he hoped the Prophet would take care to preferve him, becaufe he was not like the reft of the Court. Verfe 1 3. Ver. 1 3. Was it not told my Lord, what I did, when, Jezabelflew the Prophets of the LORD . of the LORD of Hofts Chapter liveth."] He who commands all Creatures in Heaven XVIII. and Earth. \*s**s^s Before whom Iftand."] Whom I ferve, as one of his Verfe 1 5, Minifters. Iwillfnrelyfhew myfelfunto hitn to day."] He feared not to (how himfelf to Ahal^ fora greater Ring than he, the LORD of all things, he knew would pre- fer ve him. Ver. 1 6. So Obadtah went to meet Ahab and told him, Verfe I& and Ahab went to meet Eljjah.~] The folemn Oath of Elijah made Obadiah readily obey him , and aflured him Ahab ftiould not be difappointed, but certainly find him. Ver. 17. And it came, to pafs, when Ahabfaw Elijah^ Verfe 17. that Ahab faid unto him ; art thoti he that tronblethlf- rael?~] He troubles a Country, who confounds all things in it, and puts them out of order. In fuch a Condition Ifrael now was, by a grievous Famine : Which made them not know which way to turn tbemfelves. And this he afcribed to Elijah: Ver. 1 8. And he anfwered^ I have not troubled I/rael, Verfe ilL but thou and thy Fathers Houfe, in that ye have for faken the Commandments of the LORD."] They trouble a Nation, who break the Laws of God ; not they that defend them. And thou haft followed Baalim.~] There were more Baals than one worfhipped by the Heathen, as I ob ferved before . And it is- very probable, that Ahab worfhipped all the Hoft of Heavea, as well as the Sun. See XVI. 30, 3 1. Ver. 19. Now therefore fend, and gather att'Jfrady^fe so*. unto Motint Carmel'] That he might prove, ia the Face of all the People, that it was not he who troubled them, * COMMENT4RT upon Chapter And tJx Prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty $ and XyiH. the Prophets of the Groves four hundred.] By the Prophets V/'V'V of the Groves (as we translate it) Mr. Selden under- itand the Prophets of Aftarte, rhe great Coddefs of the Zidonians : Which he proves by comparing many places of Scripture together, L. de Din Syrti Syntag. 2. Cap- 3. tyaiwonides hath a peculiar Notion, that the Prophets of Baal, and of the Groves^ were fuch as had drunk in the Opinion of the ancient Zabii : Who made Images to receive the Influences of the Stars $ Golden ones for the Sun, and Silver ones for the Moon, &c. which gave to Men the Gift of Prophecy, and (bowed what was good for them. The fame they faid of Trees } which were fome under the Influence pf one Star, fome under the Influence of another: And were planted in their Names, and worfhipped after feveral manners, and infufed (pedal Vertuesinto the Trees, and made Men Prophets. This he avers he found exprefly in their Books. More Nevoc hit* ^ Pars HI. Cap. XXIX. Who eat at Jezabefs Tabled] So high an efteem they had of thefe Prophets, that (he kept a Table on pur- pofe for them : To do them Honour with the People. Verfe 20. Ver. 20. So Ahtbfent unto all tlx Children of Ifrael, and gathered the Prophets together unto Mount Camel."] I fuppofe (he Jfraelites fent the great Men of their fe- veral Tribes to reprefent them 5 and the Prophets rea- dily afTembled at the King's Command . Who did not diftruft their Power, and was promifed Rain, I fup- pofe, by Elijah, if he did ashedefired. Verfc 21. Ver. 31. And Eli) ah came to all the People and faid, how long halt ye between two Opinions . chufe you one Bullock^ for your felves, and Jrefs it fir/i."] No doubt they produced both the Bul- locks, as he propounded at the firft, z>. 22. and if there was any advantage in chufing one, and dreffing it be- fore the other,- he defired they might have it. For ye are tanyl~\ And he being a fingle Perfon, was willing to give them the Precedence. And call on the Name of your gods, but put no Fire nnder.~] It may betranflated, call on the Name of your god, viz. Baal. Or elfe, it may relate to their Baalim, which were many, as they themfelveswere : And de- fire them all to try their Power, by putting no Fire un- der the Sacrifice, but expecting it to come down from Heaven. Verfe 16. ^ er * x ^* An A theytook^ t/x Bttllocl^which was given them.'] The choice of which was left to them. And drejfed it.'] Flea'd it, and cut it in pieces, and laid it upon the Wood. Which they durft not refufe to do, becaufe the People thought it a very reafonable Motion which Elijah made : And they had utterly loft their Credit with the People, if they had not ac- cepted it. And perhaps they did not dtftruft the Power of Baal : Which Ralbag thinks was Mars, a fiery Planet: But rather the $#, which far exceeds- the Firft Book^ of KINGS. all the other Heavenly Bodies in Heat, Which they Chapter thought might poflibly exert its Power, upon this XVIII. great occalion, and burn up their Sacrifice. At lead L^WJ they might hope that Elijah might not be able to bring Fire down from Heaven, becaufe he facrificed in a high Place, not at the Temple : Which was contrary to the Law of God, who therefore would noo hear him : And then they (hould ftand upon equal ground with him, though they obtained no fire to confume their Sacrifice. And called upon the Name of Baal front Morning even until Noon.~] When the Sun was in its greateft Strength. Saying, Baal hear ut : I fit there was no Voice , nor Any that anfwered.} Not the lead Flafh of Fire. And they leaped upon the Altar, which was made.'] Or, they danced about it, after the manner of the ancient Salii. Or, as Bocharttfs interprets it, QuafifHrore Pro- phetic& extra fe rapti, incompofitis motibuf hucilluc fere- bantur."] They ran about hither and thither, as Men in an Ecftacy with a Prophetical Fury, which put them into uncouth and diforderly Motions. For it appears they acted like Prophets from v. 19. who fometimes acted as Men befide themfelves. Hierozoi- con. P.I. Lib. II. Cap.5O. Abarhinel thinks, this leap- ing or dancing was a Rite ufed in the Worfhip of the Sun . Which puts all things in motion. Ver. 27. And it came to pafs, that at Noon.~] WhenVerfe 27, the Morning Sacrifices was ended. That Elijah mocked them.'] He did not think it un- lawful, or unfeemly to jeer them, and their god ^ that he might awaken them out of their Stupidity: And expofe them to all the By-ftanders as Corrupters of Religion, and Deceivers of the People. M m 2 for A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Cry thud, for he if a god.~\ He bid them raife their XVIII. Voices . For they believed he was a god, but might C/*V%J be fomething deaf, or a great way off from them, and fo could not hear what they faid, unlefs they cried louder. Either he if talking.'] Bufy about Difpatches : Ei- ther in fending Embafladors, or giving Audience. Or he is purfuittg.'] Some Notion fas the Hebrews underftand irj being in a deep Study, or deliberating about fome weighty Bufinefs. It is commonly under- flood, he is hunting, or purfuing Enemies. Or he is in a Journey. ~] Not at Home : But travel- ling to fome other place $ whether they rnuft fend after him. Or per adventure he fleepeth^] As they ufed to do in thofe hot Countries after Dinner. And ntuft be awal^d.'] With loud Noifes. Vcrf 28. Ver. 28. And they cried aloud, cut the wf elves after their manner^ with Knives and Lancers till the Blood gufiedout upon them.'} They did more than Elijah bid them : Hoping to move him with their own Blood, in which perhaps they thought he more delighted, than in the Blood of Beads, or in their Cries. For many Nations offered humane Sacrifices to their gods : And their Priefts, when they were poflefled with a facred Fury, were wont to flam themfelves, till their Blood gufhed out. Thus among the Romans the Priefts did in the Worfhip of Del/ona: In which Sa- cerdotes non alieno, fed fuo cruore facrificant t Sec. The Priefts facrlficed not with another's Blood, but with their own f See Laftantiw in his Divin. Inftitut. Lib. I. Cap. 1 1.) For cutting their Shoulders, and running fheir drawn Swords through both Hands, they run about like mad Men. And fo dpuleiw faith, they that carried about the Syrian goddtfs $ after many other i be Fir ft Boo\ of K I N G S. other things, took out their Knives or Swords and Chapter cut themfelves. See Lib. VIII. Metamorph. p. 172, XVIIL 173. and Pric&ttf and Rigaltius upon that Place. But our Mr. Mede hath a peculiar Notion, which is 5 that Baalim being the deifyed Souls of dead Men, there- fore the Prophets of Baal cut themfelves in his Wor- fhip ; becaufethis was a Funeral Rite or Ceremony, XIX. Lcvit. 18. XXI. 5. XIV. Dent. i. and therefore retained in the Service of fuch gods, in token that they were but deifyed Men. See upon XVI. 51. Ver. 29. And it came to pafs, when Mid- day n? Ver. 36. And it cante to paff, at the time of the offer- Verfe %6% ing of the Evening Sacrifice."] When the People of. God were offering their folemn Prayers to God at the Temple in Jerufdew. This is a noted time for great things that were then done. See upon IX: e- vit. 24. Ver. 37. That Elijah the Prophet rame near*"] To Altar, Andfaid, LORD God of Abraham^ and Ifaac^ Jacob, let it be known tkif- day+ that thou art- God in Ifrael 5 and that I am thy Servant ^ and that I have done all thefe things^ at thy word.] He defires him to - demonftrateat once by this Miracle*} that he was the- only true God, and that Elijah was his Prophet,- and* that he had done nothing (in bringing for inftance a , long Famine upon them) but hy his Command. Suchh Miracles t> ^ COMMENTARY upon Chapter Miracles were proper, either where a new Religion XVIII. was to be fetup: Or, the o-ld one reftored after a L^V^Nj General Depravation. Verfe 37. Ver. 37. Heartne^ LORD, hear tne.~] He was the more earneft, and fervent in this Prayer, as Aharbinel thinks, becaufe he had undertaken to make this Ex- periment of God's Power, without any particular Command from God, of his own accord . Nothing doubting but he would appear to vindicate his own Honour $ though he offered Sacrifice in an high Place, which was again ft the Law. That this People may kpow that thott art the LORD God^ and that then haft turned their heart bacl^ again."] God turns Mens Hearts, though they be not turned : Becaufe he not only doth that which evidently tends to convert them, and is fufficient to do it 5 but for the prefent alfo fo affects them that they are converted : Though they will not take care to continue in that pious Bent, but ftart back again from him. "Verfe 38. Ver. 38. And the Fire of the LORD fell, and con- fumed the Burnt- facrifice, and the Wood, And the Stones and the Duft, .and licked up the Water that was in the Trench.~] It is called the Fire of the LORD, becaufe it was fent from him out of Heaven to teftify that he was the only God (as the People could not but ac- -knowledge) and it was of fuch unufual Force, that it confumed not only the FJefh of the Buljock and the Wood : But the very Stones, and the Duft, and all the Water that had been poured out there in great Quantity. 39. Ver. 39. And when all the People J "aw it , they fell on their Faces."] Wor(hipping the LORD of Heaven and Earth. the Firft Bool^ of KINGS. 273 Andfaid, the LORD is God, the LORD he if G^.] Chapter This repeated Acknowledgment (hows how deeply XVIIK they were affe&ed at prefent, with the Demonftra- ^^r^^ tion God had given, that he only was to be wor- fhtpped. Which extorted this publique Confeflion from them . But they foon forgat their own Convi- &ions 5 and continued in their Idolatry. Ver. 40. And Elijah faid unto ikem^ ta^e the Pr and his Chariot was making ready, that little Cloud fpread it felf, and in a grtat Thick nefs covered the Face of the Sky. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreell} He did not go to Samaria 5 for Jezrcel, I fuppofe, was nearer : And there he had a Palace, XXI. i. Ver. 46. And the hand of the LORD was upon Eli- Verfe 46. j ah, and he girded up his Loynt^ and ran before Ahab^\ They wore loofe and long Garments in this Coun- try : And therefore girded them up when they had occafion to run 5 that they might not hinder them. And God now gave Elijah more than humane Strength, fo that (though he was an old Man, XIX. 4.) he was made able to run, as faft as Ahab's Chariot drove, like one of his Footmen. In which he (bowed his Readinefs to do the King all the Honour imaginable, and that he was far from being his Enemy \ but only 4 J J deiired he would become a Worfhipper of the true God $ which was, he could not but fee, the LORD God of Ifraet. Unto the entrance of Jezreel.~] He thought it not prudent, it is likely, to venture into the City left Jezabel fhould feize him : But ftopt at the Gate of the City, or of the Palace, and retired to fome pri- vate place. N n a G H A P. 376 A COMMENTARY upon CHAP. XIX. A ND _L\ do doneT] How he had called for Fire from fieavenj and had made Rain to fall upon the Earth. And withal that he had flam all the Prophets with the Sword."] That is, all the Prophets of Baal, for they only are mentioned, XVIII. 22, 15-. and the Pro- phets of the Groves (who are (aid to be four Hun- dred, XVIII. 19.) were ftili in being, as appears from XXII. 6. Terfe 2. Ver. 2. Then Jezabelfent a Meffenger unto Elijah* faying^ fo let God do to me And more alfo, if I make jtot thy Life , 4U the Life of one of them ^ by to morrow about thiftimeJ] This (hows tte great Folly of Rage $ which gave him notice of his Danger, and admonifh- ed him to avoid it s Or, .perhaps (he thought him as couragious, as Ihe was furious 3 and that he would not flee : And then (he knew her Power would be greater than hi. Verfc 3. Ver. 3. And when hefaw that, hearofe and went for hjf jLrjfe, and came to Bcerjheba. which belongeth to /#- dab."] Whether her Power did not reach 5 being in another Kingdom. And he left kk Servant there."] Becaufe he intended to go into the Wildernefs, where he refolved to fpend the reft of his Days, and die .- And he would not have the Youth put to the fame Straits, in which he was like to be. We read of no Command from God to fly $ nor doth he forbid it: But left him to his //obfervS. And be requefted for hiwfelf that he might die, and fitid^ it if enough 3 norx>) LO RD take away my Life.~\ He thought he could do God no further Service $ and therefore defired to be difcharged from his Office ky Death: For all that he could fay or do, proved ineffectual. For I ant not better than my Fathers.] Unto whofe Age, it is likely, he had lived. Ver. 5. And as he laid and flept under the Juniper Verfe ff^ Tree, an Angel touched hint ^ and f aid unto him, ari/e and eat."] Perhaps he was faint with his Day's Jour- ney } for want of Food at the end of it. Ver. 6. And he looked, and behold ther teas a Cake \r er f ^^ batten on the Coals. ~\ It (hould be tranflated upon hot Stover, as Bochartw thows in his Hierozoicon^ P. I. Ub. H. Cap. XXXIII. And a Crufe of Water at Jw Head, ,a*d he did ea* And drink* And laid him dawn again.^ Being weary, jtnd wanting Reft, Ver. ^~ A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Ver. 7. And the Angel of the LORD came again the XIX. fecond time^ and touched hint, f*y' tn g-> <* r 'f e an ^ ***, S^V"SJ beca*fe the Journey it too great for thee.~] Without ex- Verfe 7. traordinary Strength . He being an old Man, and much tired with one day's Journey. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And he arofe, and did eat and drin^ and went in the Strength of that Meat forty Days and forty Nights, unto Horeb the Mount of God."} ft was a Jour- ney of not above four or five Days, if fo much . But he went about by private ways, that he might not be difcovered j and perhaps refted fometimes and lay hid, if there was any danger of his being feen. The Jews have made a Comparifon between him and Mo- fes, in twenty four Particulars. But Abarbinel (hows they were very different,and Mofes had the Superiority, efpecially in this thing here mentioned. For he is of Opinion that Elijah cat and drank every Day, when he could meet with Food, as he might in feveral Places of the Wildernefs. But ordinary Food would not have enabled him to travel fo long as he and ft and upon tf$*.Vcrfe M 9 Mount kfore the LORD.~\ Where theSCHECfll- NAH, I fuppofe, appeared unto him, after fome Preparations for it. And behold the LORD ptffed by, and a great and' ftrong Wind rent the Mountains, and brake in pieces the Rocks^] He heard a Sign of the Divme Prefence com- ing, before he went out of the Cave. For his An- gelical Minifters which attended his Ma jelly, pafied by the Mouth of the Cave itva mighty terrible Wind :-. Which had thofe dreadful Effe&s here mentioned. Before the LORD."] Thefe words (how, tfeat in>x~ aft fpeakingit was not tk-L&RD that palled by when- this Wind blew, but his timers, as I tnay call them, , who went before the LORD : So it here follows.. 4 ^' Bute a8o A CO MM EN T ART Chapter But the LORD WM not in the J f W.] T he S C H E- XIX. CHIN AH did not yet appear. And after the Wind an Earthquake, but the LORD was not in the Earthquake^ The Divine Prefence ftill did not manifeft it (elf. . Ver. 12. And after the Earthquake a Fir el] Light- ning and Thunder, juft as there was at the giving of the Law : Which Elijah endeavoured to reftore. But the LORD was not in the Fire.] Still he heard nothing from God : Who by thefe things prepared him to receive his Majefty with the greateft Humility and Compofure of Spirit. And after the Fire a fa all ft ill Voice."] At the laftthe LORD himfelf came $ as he perceived by the whif- pering of a Voice : Which bad him liften and attend to what theLO&D Ihould fay unto him.- There are many pious Meditations, which this Appearance of the Divine Majefty hath fuggefted to Interpreters. Particularly Strrgcltffs looks upon it, as representing the Divine Nature, to be enclined not to terrify and deftroy : But placidly to invite and preferve. God eafily lays afide his Anger (as Nazzanzen fpeaks in his Oration upon his Father) and delights to exercife Mercy. For he is compelled to anger by us, -n^ 3 .7*70 r!w fyfAljub fe^et, but to Mercy he is very prone, as we may fpeak, and by his own Nature bent unto it,-;6fe. To the fame purpofe Ralbag difcourfes a- mong the Jews: Others look upon all this as a Figure oftheGofpel Difpenfation, which came not in fuch a terrible manner -as the Law did, with Storms, Thun- ders, Lightnings, and Earthquakes (XIX. Exod. 16. XIL Hehr. 18, &c) but with great Lenity and Sweet- nefe : God fpeaking to us by his Son, in the moft mild and gentle manner. And herein alfo fome think lie intended to (how Elijah that he had all the Ele- ments the Firfl Bool^ of K I N G S, ments ready armed at his Command, if he pleafed Chapter to make ufe of them, to deftroy Idolaters: But by XIX. that fall Voice he declared the Divine Patience and v^*vo Tendernefs , which he would have him to imitate, by bridling his Anger to which he was by Nature ve- ry prone. Ver. 13. And it WAS fo, when Elijah heart/ it, fAiiYerfe 12. he wrapped his Face in hfc Mantle, and went out and flood in the entrance of the Cave."] He firft covered his Face, in token of great Reverence to God $ not be- ing able to look upon the Divine Glory, which now appeared : And then went out of the Cave (as God had commanded him, v. n.) and ftood in the En- trance of it, to liften what God would fay to him. And behold, there came n Voice to hint.'] From the S C H E C H I N A H, or Divine Glory. And faid, what dofl thon here Elijah?] The fame words are repeated which he had heard before, v. 9. Only there they were fpoken by the Angel 5 but here by the LORD himfelf. Ver. 14. And he faid, I have been very jealous for Verfc 14. the LORD of Hofls, becaufe the Children of Ifrael have forfuken thy Covenant, thrown down thine Altars, and flain thy Prophets with the Sword : and I even I ontly am left, and they feel^ my Life, to tak$ it away."] He makes the fame Anfwer that he had done before, v. 10. He was fo full of Anger (as Ralbag thinks) that he did not apply his Mind as he ought to underftand the Vifion$ and therefore only repeats his formet words. But God informs him in the following Verfe, that he would take care to chaftife the Israelites in due time for their Apoftacy from him : Afcd for that end bad him go and anoint Hazael^ &c. Oo Ver. 15. a8a A COMMENT ARY nfon Chapter Ver. 15. And the LORD faid unto him go^ return XIX. thy way to the Wildernefs of Dam af cut.'] He bids him re- U^V"NJ turn the way he came to Horeb ^ till he came to the Verfe 15. way that led to the Wildernefs of Damafivt, and go thither. And when thou come ft , anoint Hazael to be King of Syria."] As much as to fay (as the forenamed Author expounds it) fince thou art fo angry with the Ifrae- Ijtes for their Impiety, go and anoint one to be King of Syria : Who (hall be a Scourge to them. But this was not done prefently, nor did he himfelf anoint Jehu : But ordered that it (hould be done by his Suc- ceflbr Elffia : Though it may be doubted whether any of them were anointed ,except Jehu. For the word anoint inay be no more than appoint him King, as Kings were conftituted in Ifrael by llndion. Hence by a Metaphor it is accommodated to the Preferment of Men to all Dignities. As in CV. Pfal. 15. touch not mine anointed : And Cyrus is called the LORD'S anointed, XLV.Jfaiah I. Yerfe 16. Ver. 16. And Jehu the Son of Nimfji."] He was Grandfon of Nimjhi (as appears from 2 Kings IX. 2.) who are frequently called Sons in the Holy Books. Anomt to be King over Ifrael 3 and Elifia the Son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah fhalt thott anoint to be Prophet in thy room.'] This laft was the chiefeft Command (to anoint, that is appoint Elifha to be his Succeflbr) for the other two were to be performed by him, not by Elijah : Who ordered Eli/b* to do it, in convenient time : And firft he appointed Jehu King, and after- wards Hazael. Verfe 17. Ver. 17. And itfbaUcovte topafs, that hint that efca~ peth the Sword of Hazael^ jha.11 Jehu flay : and him tha t efcapeth from the Sword of Jehu^ (ball Elijha flay."] This is not to be underftood, as if the Sword of Hazael (hould the F/r/i Boo\ of K I N G S. 183 mould do Execution before the Sword of Jehu ; and Chapter the Sword of Jehu, before that of Elijha : But it on- XIX. ly fignifies, as Abarbinel obferves, that God in his Providence had appointed three Perfons to puniCh the Ifraelites according to their Deferts. Thus he intend- ed Kwwe/ mould deftroy them in Battle 5 which he mentions firft becaufe it is a general Calamity. But Jezabel and the Children of Ahab, and the Priefts of Baal, not going out to fight, and confequently not falling in Battle, God ordered JehuCnould cut them off in that manner as he did, with all the Worfhippers of Baal. But he did not inflidt evil upon all the Peo- ple of Jfrael) becaufe he was to be their King. And though he flew Idolaters, he did not meddle with lit- tle Children, whofe Difpofition he did not know : But they were referved to be punilhed by Elifta, who forefaw they would prove Idolaters. Thus he, with too much Subtilty. But in general he faith well 3 that the Scripture doth not mention thefe things ac- cording to the time wherein they fell out : But accor- ding to the Decree of God, who appointed every one to execute that which was proper for him to do. Ver. 1 8. YetlhaveleftmefeventhonfandiKJfrael.'lVztk This feems to be a Correction of Elijah's Miftake, who imagined that he alone was the only true Wor- (hipper of God that remained in Ifrael. Though Abar- binel will have it relate to what goes immediately before, that all the Ifraelites mould not be deftroy- cd . For he had a great Number (feven thoufand be- ing put indefinitely for many thoufand) of pious People in Ifrael, who had never wor (hipped Baal $ and mould not therefore be hurt either by Hazael, *or otherways. A CO MM EN TART upon Chapter AH the Knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every XIX. Month that have not biffed hint.'] Every one knows that t^V^SJ bowing the Knee, was an Aft of Worfhip : And fo was kiffing the Idol : Which was done two ways. Either by applying their Mouth immediately to the Image (as Cicero againft Verres relates of the Image of Hercules) or kiffing their hand before the Image, and then ft retching it out, and as it were, throwing the Kifs to it. Concerning which Rite of Adoration Sal- ntafiits hath given a large account in his Annotations upon Flav. Vopifcw in the Life of the Emperor Pro- bus $ where he obferves fuch Rifles were called labra- U ofcula ; and from hence the Phrafes ofcula jacere^ and bafiajaftare^ and mann venerari, and ntann fain- tare: Which he (hows out of many Authors, are ufed for this way of Adoration . The fame he notes in his Plin. Exercrt. p. 936. where Pliny faith, in ado- rando dextram ad ofculnm referimus totnm corpw cir- cHmagintu** When we worfhip, we kifs our hand, and turn about our whole Body. Vcrfe 19. Ver. 19. So he departed thence."] From Mount Ho- reb. And found Elijha the Son ofShaphat."] In his Jour- ney towards Datnafcw. Who was ploughing with twelve Toke of Oxen before him, and he with the twelfth] His Servants managed the reft, and he himfelf drove the laft. This (hows him to have been a great Man 5 who according to the manners of thofe ancient times, looked after his Bufinefs himfelf; And was taken from the Plough to be a Prophet, as the Romans took fome from thence to be Di&ators and Confuls. For nothing was in greater Efteem than .Agriculture among the ancient Greeks and Romans as well as among the Hebrews. In Homer we fee Kings and Princes living upon the Fruits the Firft Bool^of KINGS. Fruits of their Lands and their Flocks, and labour- Chapter ing with their own hands. Hejiod hath made a Po- XIX era on purpofe to recommend the Country Life and Labour to his Brother. It would be too tedious to (how how the Carthaginians and Perjians, and in- deed all other ancient Nations, did not think that to do nothing, was to Jive nobly $ btt they ftudied how to cultivate their Lands, and employed them- felves, as well as their Servants in that Bufineft. Whence fuch Perfons, who were of the beft duality, were called jtjnetius Cincinatus is faid by Dhnyf. Halicarn. L. X. to have returned from his Confulfbip, to lead ' % cujl&gybv @w a Ruftick Life, as he did before it. As the Learned Jac. Pemonivf obferves upon JEltans Var. Hiftor. L.I. Cap. XXXI. As for the reft, the Greeks afcribe this Invention of yoking Oxen together to plough withal either to Ceres, or Triptolemw, or Bacchus (or fome other great PerfonJ though Mofis who was before them all, was well acquainted with it, XV. Deut. 9. And Job before him, I. Jot 3. XLH. 12. AbarbJnel thinks thefe XII. Yoke of Oxen with which Eliflw was ploughing j denoted that he (hould be Leader of the twelve Tribes of Ifiael. And Elijah pajfed by him, and c aft hjf Mantle upon lim.~] He put upon him the Prophetical Habit; which was his Inauguration. Or as fome underftood it, this was a Token that hemuft become his Servant, and attend upon him 5 and confequently fucceed in his Office. For Servants were wont to carry their Mafters Shoes after them $ and their Garments. And accordingly he waited upon him, as appears from a8<5 A COMMENTARY nfon Chapter two Phrafes, in the laft Verfe. f/>/2, he went after XIX. him \ and Secondly, he tuiniftred unto him. V^>/XJ Ver. 20. And he left the Oxen, and ran aficr Elijah."} Verfe 20. f o defire him to ftay a little. And faid, let me kjfs nty Father and wy Mother."] Take his leave of them. And then I will follow thee.~] For he underftood that to be the meaning of his throwing his Mantle upon him. And he f aid unto him, go back, again.} Return to thy Oxen 3 and do as thou defireft. For what have I done unto thee . he made War upon him. And there were thirty and two Kings with himJ] Such- petty Princes as thofe in the Land of Canaan before the Conqueft of it by Jojbua 5 Who were under the Protection of the King ofSyria, and bound to ferve him in his Wars. But he had better have been without them, and imployed his own natural Subje&sonly: Who had done hisBuGnefs more fuccefsfully (^.14.) becaufe it was their own. And Horfes and Chariots.'] It is not faid what Number 5 which is an Argument it was not very- great. And A COMMENTARY Chapter And h* mn * U P an ^ befieged Samaria, and warred XX. againftit."] He did not actually befiege it: For his L/*W> Army was routed before he could do it. Therefore theSenfeis, he went up to Itefiege Samaria, and afiault it Which is like that Speech, XXVIII. Gen. 10. Ja- cob went outfraw Beerflieba and went to Haran. Which. Rafi interprets, he went out to go to Haran. For it pre- fently follows, that God appeared to him in the way. Verfe 2. Ver. ^. And fent Mejjengers to Ahab King of ffraet into the City, tndfaid unto him, thus faith Benhadad.] He fpeaks in a haughty Style , juft like the Meflengers of the AJfyria* Monarch to Hezekiak y thus faith the great King, the King of Ajfyria. Verfe 3. Ver. 3. Thy Silver and thy Gold are mine, thy Wives and thy Children, even the goodlieft are ff/inej] This Meflage is explained, by the King of Ifrael's An- fwer. Verfe 4. Ver. 4. And the King of Jfrael anfwered, and faid, my Lord, King, according to thy faying, I am thine, And *tt that I have.~] He was content to be his Vaffal, and to hold all that he enjoyed of him : For fo he underftood his Demands. But Benhadad intended more : Or, from his fubmiffive Anfwer took occafion 'to enlarge his Demands.- Requiring the Property of all he had $ which he refolved (as appears from his fecond Meflage, in the next Verfes) to take into his own Pofleflion. Ver. 5. And the Mejfingers came again, and faid th*f fpeakfth Behadad, faying ^ Although I have fent unto tbee, faying, thou fialt deliver unto me thy Silver, *nd thy Gold, thy Wives and thy Children. Verfe 6. Ver. 6. Yet I will fend my Servants unto thee, to morrow about this time : and they fhallfearch thy Houfe, and the Houfes of thy Servants 5 and itfoall be, that what' foever the Fir ft Boot^ of K I N G S. foever is pleafaxt in thine Eyes, theyftall put it in their Chapter hand, and take it au>dy7\ He tells him the meaning of his XX. firft Demand, that he mould deliver all he had into ^-OT^ his hands. Unto which if he now confented, it (hould not fuffice : But he would fend fome of his Officers to take all, and to ranfack every corner of his Palace, and carry away from him and from his Cour- tiers, (who are meant, I fuppofe, by his Servants) whatfoever was valuable. Or, perhaps by Servants, he means all his Subjects. Ver. 7. Then the King of Ifrael called all the Elders Verfe 7. of the Land) and fazd.~] Summoned a general Council of all the great Men, to advife what to do. Mark, I pray , aud fee how this Man feekfth Mifchief: for he fent unto me for my Wives > and for my Children $ fir my Silver and my Gold, and I denied them tiot.~] But now nothing will content him, but my utter Ruine, and inflaving of our Country. In this Ah&b fhowed fome Sparks of Vertue remaining in him; in that while Ben-Jsadad defired only what he had in his own Difpofal, that is, all his private Goods, he agreed to it : But when all the People, and the publique Good was concerned, he would do nothing without their Confent. Ver. 8. And all the Elders, and all the People faid Verfe 8, unto him, hearken not unto him, nor cvnfint.~] They promifing unanimoufly, I fuppofe, to ftand by him, and defend him againft fo infolent any Enemy. Ver. 9. Wherefore he faid unto the MejJengersofBen-V&k o. hadad, tell my Lord the King?] Of whom he fpeaks, in as humble a manner, as he did at firft, v. 4. All that thoH didft fend for to thy Servant at the fir ft, Iwill do : But this thing I may net doJ] For his People would not yield to it. Pp And A COMMENTARY upon Chapter And the Mejjengers departed, and brought him word XX. agaiu.~] Delivered this anfwer to Ben hadad, that L/"V"VJ Ahab ftuck to his firft Concefikm, according as he un- derftood his Demands: But would not confent to more. Ycrfc 1C. Ver. IO. And Ben-hadad fent unto him, and faid, the gods do fo to me, and more alfo, if the Duft of Sa- maria floatt fuffice for handfuls, for all the People that follow we.'] He wifties he may perilh, if he did not bring fuch an Army againft the King of Ifrael, that if every Soldier in it mould take an handful of his Country, nothing of it would be left remaining. Others explain it thus, I will not leave a Bit of t>a- ntarta ftanding. But the other is moft natural } and this is included in it. Verfc II. Ver. ii. And the King of Ifrael anfopered and faid, tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his Harnefs, boa ft himfelfr AS he that putteth it off.] A Speech like that, do not Jingo. Triumph before the Vi&ory* Vejrfe 1^2. Ver. 12. And it came to paft when Benhadad heard this Mejjage (as he was drinking, he and the Kings in the Pavillions) that he faid unto his Servants, fet your felves in aray. And they fet tbemfelves in-aray againjt the City."] Whilft the Treaty lafted between him and Ahab, he was remifs : But now he commands his Ar- my to be put in order $ and that they (hould invert Samaria, and plant their Batteries again ft it. 13. Ver. 13. And behold there came a. Prophet to Ahab King of Ifrael, faying.~] One of thofe that had been hid But was now commanded by God to appear and carry a Meffage to Ahab. Which the Prophet thoughx be might do fafely, when he brought him fuch good Hews, as that which follows? the Firfl Bffol^ of KINGS. faith the LORD, haft thoufee* all this great Chapter Multitude ? Behold, I will deliver it into thine hand XX. tbff ddy7\ Hereby God (bowed, that, as he hated Ido- latry, of which Ahab was notoriously guilty, fo he hated alfo infolent proud Boafters: Who imagine they have no Superiour $ and that they can carry all things as they plcafe, by their own Power. And thoufljalt know that 1 am the LORD."] Have a new Demonftration that he was the L O R D of all things. For Ahab had no fuch MefTage brought by any of Baal's Prophets : Which was fufficient to con- vince him, that the LORD, who could foretel and do fuch wonderful things, was theonely God. Ver. 14. And Ahab f aid ly whom ?~] He gave fome Verfe Credit to his word 5 and onely asks by whom this Deliverance (hould be wrought. For he knew he had not Forces enough to encounter and overthrow fuch powerful Enemies. And hefaid, thus faith the LORD $ even by the young Men of the Princes of the Provinces^] The Princes of the Provinces, were the Governours of the feveral Provinces, into which the Kingdom was divided. And their young Men, feem to fignify their Servants, or their Pages (as we fpeak) that waited on them. As much as to fay, not by old experienced Soldiers, but by Youths : Who perhaps had never feen a Fight, but had always lived at Court. And hefaid, who fljall order the Battlt . Shall we make a Sally, or expeft till they a(TaultMS> And he anfwered, Thou.'] He bids the King begin, and lead them on. Which was commanded, to in- courage the young Men, and to try whether Ahab would thus far truft God, or no. Pp 2 Ver. 15. Chapter Ver. 15. Then he nnmbred the young Men of the Prin- XX. ces of the Provinces, and they were two hundred thirty IXVVJ and two. And after them he nttmbred all the People, Verfe 15. ev ^ n all the Children of Ifrael, being feven thoufand."] All that he could get together : For thefe fure were not all the Men of War in Ifrael. Verfe 16. Ver. 16. And they went out 7\ Of Samaria. At Noon^} When they knew the Syrians were at Dinner, taking a Repaft , if not debauching them- felves, as their King was. But Benhadad was drinking hiwfelfdruxl^jn the Pa- uiUions, he and the Kings, the thirty two Kings that helped him."] Being perfectly fecure that the Ifraelites durft not appear to difturb him. Verfe 1 7. Ver. 1 7. And the young Men of the Princes of the Pro- vinces went out frft.~] And Ahal, no doubt, at the head of them. And Ben-hadadfent out, and they told him there are Men come out of Samaria."] The meaning is, that upon their firft coming out Ben-hadad, hearing a Burtle, fent to know what was the matter : And they told him a fmall Party was come out of Samaria. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And he f aid, whether they be come out for Peace, tafy them alive : Or whether they be come out for War, tak$ them alive.'] ft was againft the Law of Na- tions to apprehend thofe that came to treat of Peace : But he in his iniolent Pride, bad his People ror trou- ble themfelves to examine what they came ior, but to take them alive 5 which he thought they might eafily do, being fo few. Verfe 19. Ver. 19. So thefe young Men of the Princes of the Provinces, came out of the City, and the Army which followed them :~\ The young Men onely appeared at flrft} but the reft of the Army came out a little after. Ver. 20. the Firfi Bool^of KING S. ** Ver. 20. And they flew every one his Man.~] Who Chapter came to apprehend them. XX. And the Syrians fled, and Ifrael purfutd them."] At w^/**-* which the Syrians were fo amazed, by the Sudden- Verfe 20. nefs of the Attempt, that they fled .- Imagining th^m to be ftronger and better prepared for War, than they were. And Ben-hadad the King of Syria efcaped on anhorfe^ with the horfemen.'] He was poflefled with the fame Fear $ and did not indeavour to make his Men rally again, but fled away together with them. Ver. 2 1 . And the King of Ifrael went out^ andfmote Verfe 2 1. the Horfes and Chariots^ and flew the Syrians with a. great Slaughter. ~] He went out, by the Prophet's Or- der, at the Head of the young Men, when they firft iflued out of the City. But now he went out further, than he had done at the beginning, and overtook the Chariots and Horfemen : Among whom he made a. great Slaughter.. Ver. 12. And the Prophet came to the King 0/ 7/n/e/, Verfe 22, andfaid, go, and ftrengthen thy fe If, and mark^ and fee what thou doflf] He bad him make what Prepara- tions he was able, and take care that nothing was wanting to oppofe the Defigns of the Syrians again ft him.' Who would certainly return, and renew the Fight the next Year. For at the return of the Year, the King of Syria will come tip againft theeJ] At the time, when Kings ufed to go out to War. Of which fee 2 Sam. Xf. i. Ver. 23. And. the Servants of the King of Syria faid Verfe 2 3> unto him, tlxir gods are gods of the Hills ^ therefore they were ftronger than we.'] They did not know the God of the Univerfe, but only wormipped particular gods : Who they thought ruled over particular Coun* tries, and diftributed feveral parts of thofe Countries among COMMENTARY nfon Chapter among them (fome being gods of the Woods, others XX. of the Rivers, &c.) and they imagined the God of WV%J the Hebrews to be ^^a'-m?, as P*n was calkd by the Heathen. For they had heard, perhaps, that their Law was given from Heaven upon a Mountain, and there God appeared to them : And the Country of ffrael alfo was very Hilly . Where upon one eminent Hill God's Temple was built and he was worfhipped. And it was known, that the Jfraelites delighted to facrifice in high Places: Infomuch that when they could not come at them, they facrificcd on the Houfe tops, XX. Jerem. 1 3. But let uf fight againjl them in the Plain^ and fttrely wefliaU be granger than they."] For befides that the Sy- rian gods, they thought, had more power in a flat plain Country 5 wherein they delighted : There alfo they mould have more Service of their Horfes and Chariots, which could not fight fo well upon Moun- tains. Verfel 4. Ver. 24. And do this thing ^ take the Kings away every Man out of their Place, and put Captains in their rooms."] He had made the thirty two Kings, who were his Tributaries, chief Commanders in his former Army: Which his CounfelJors reprefented to him, as a great Errors and therefore ad vi fed him to difplace them, and put his own Captains in their ftead, who would fight better. For they fought for their Coun- try, which the other did not: And befides, the Kings it is likely were too delicate to be Warriours^ and were not fo obedient to Difcipline, as his Cap- tains would be. Verfe 25. ^ er - 2 5' And number thee an Army like the Army thou haft loft, Horfe for Horfe, Chariot for Chariot ^ wd will fight jfuinjl them in the Plain ^ and fttrely we '/gvr than /%.J For his Army they knew would the Fir ft Boo\of KINGS, would be fuperiour 5 and they (hould have the Ad- Chapter vantage of the Ground. XX. Ver. 26. And it came to pafs, that, at the return the Year> Ben-hadad nnmbred the Syrians , and we ttt Verfe up to Aphek, tofght againft Ifrael.'] This was a City in the Tribe of AJIxr :. Which it is probable was one of thofe that Ben-hadad's Father had taken from the King of Ifrael, v. 34. Not far from which was the Plain of Galilee, where he intended to fight. Ver, 27. And the Children of IJrael mre numbed^ Vcrfe and were all prefect, and went againft them^] That is, as many as could be got together were numbred j and put in order to give them Battle. And the Children of Jfrael pitched before them, Ukf two little flocks of Kids : But the Syrians filled the Coun- try.'] The Hebrew word Chafiph is no where found, but in this Place .- Which Kimchi and others tranflate,, a little Flock* But there is no need to add the word little? For the Flocks of Goats are always finally ne- ver fo great as thofe of Sheep. For they love to ram- ble, arid are fcattered up and down, as Bochartuf ob- ferves : Who tranflates thefe words, two Flocks of young Kids :. Denoting their contemptible Number, and that they were weak, feeble, and timerous, like thofe fugacious Creatures, as- he fpeaks, Hierozoicon; P. K Lib. 1 1. Cap. LI. Ver. 2 8. And there came a Man of God, and fpafy y off-. unto the King eflfrael, andfaid, Thws faith the LORD; becaufe the Syrians have f aid, the LORD *f God of the Rills, but he if not God of the Valley* :- Therefore will I deliver all thfa great Multitude into thine hand, and ye fhall know that I am the LORD.~] This Man of God, the Jem fay, was the Prophet Mfe/tfL Ver, A C M M E N T A R T upon Chapter Ver. 29. And they pitched one over againft the other XX. fcven Days 5 andfo it was that OH thefeventh Day, the L^V^w Battle was joyned.~] It may feem Grange that they Verfe 19. fhould look upon one another fo long, and watch for Advantages, without coming to any Action : For the Syrians had fo much Advantage in their Numbers, that one would think they mould have immediately incornpalTed the Ifraelites, and deftroyed them all. But, perhaps, the Israelites were pitched upon a ri- ling Ground, and the Syrians durft not atacquethem, till they came down into the Plain. And the Children of Ifraeljlew of the Syrians, an hun- dred thoufand Footmen, in one day.} In all Probability they furprized them, by afudden unexpected Atfault: And God difmayed them, and ftruck fuch a Terror into them ; that they could make no Refiftance. Verfe 30. Ver. 30. And the reft fled to Aphek,, into the City, and there a Wall fell upon twenty andfeven theufand of the Men t/Mt were left. ~] The Wall of the City, under which they lay, to be ready to defend it, fell down 5 either by the Israelites Batteries, or by an Earthquake.- And killed, or maimed a great Number of them that fled thither for Safety. And Ben- hadad fled into the City, into an inner Cham- ber '."] In the Hebrew the words are, into a Chamber within a Chamber, that is, into a very fecret Place, where he thought he mould not be eafily found. Vcrfc 31. Ver. 31. And his Servants jaid ttnto him, behold now $ we have heard // but hia Kingdom alfo, which he had now power to take from him; And be fo far from diminifhing his Power, that he would reftore all that had been taken from him by his Father, Which fenflefs Kindncfs was the thing that provoked God to pronounce that heavy Doom upon him, v. 41. But tbe next words do not well agree with this : There- fpreltake thefe to ^ be Beu-hadad% words to Ahab^ whereby he endeavoured to fmooth him up and fWeetcnhitn, by offering to become his Subject (as the Fir ft Book^ of KINGS. the next words fignify) and making Reftitution of Chapter all that had been taken from his Predeceflbr. XX. And thou Jhalt make Streets for thee in Dawafcvf, as L^WJ my Father made in Samaria."] Some think by Street /he means Market-places, where Commodities were fold, the Toll of which (hould belong to Ahab. Others think he means Courts of Judgment, where he (hould maintain a Jurifdi&ion over Ben-hadad's Subje&s : ' Others, that we now call a Piazza, of which Ahab {hould receive the Rents. But commonly Interpre- ters think he means Fortifications, whereby he might bridle the chief City of the Kingdom of Syria 5 that they might not make new Irruptions into the Land of Jfrael. Cittadels, as we now fpeak, to keep them in awe, and to be a check to them, if they attempted any thing deftru&ive to the Israelites : Yet after all, Qotf. Vailandvs hath faid a great deal to prove that the Hebrew word fignifies Palaces, which he being al- lowed to build was a great token of Subjeftion. We do not read of any fuch things, that were built by the Syrian Rings in Samaria : Nor of any Cities they took from the Ifraelites $ unlefs thofe taken from Ba- afia, XV. 20. who was not Ahab's Father. Then faid Ahab I will fend thee away with thjf Cove* nant, fo he made a. Covenant with him, and fent him away.} Wherein he di {covered his great Weaknefs : For his Covenant was foon broken, as we read in the laft Chapter of this Book. v Ver. 35. And a certain Man of the Sons of the Pro- Verfe 3$. phetsT] This the Jews will ftill have to be Micaiah : Which is not likely, for he is called a Prophet of the LORD, not one of the Sons of the Prophets. Said unto his Neighbour in the word of the LORD, finite me, I pray thee.] He bad him give him fuch a Blow, as might wound him, v. 37. Qq 2 And 3 oo AGO MM E N T AK Y npott Ghapttr And the Man. refufed to fmlte />//#.] Becaufe it looktr XX. like Inhumanity, to ftrike an innocent Perfon, who, uo/^vj had done him.no wrong. Verfe 56. Ver. 36. Then faid he unto hint, becaufe thou haft not obeyed the Voice of* the LORD> behold^ as foon AS thox art departed from me, a Lion fbal{Jlaj.thee.~] This may feem too fevere a Punifhment, till thefe two things be confidered. Firft-> That the Prophet com- manded him to fmite him, and that^r the Word of the LORD. Not of his own Will, and from his proper private Motion 5 but God required it. As if he had faid (fo Theodoret glofles on it) 8 iy& ow, 6cc. . Jt is not 1 that requite this ofthee^ but the, Spirit that is in me. And accordingly the PuniQiment was inflicl- cd, becaufe he obeyed not the Voice of the LORD. And Secondly 9 thQ Prophet commanded this in God's Name, not to an ordinary Man, but EIReehu. , Which fhould not be.tranQated to his. Neighbour, but, as St. IJieroM). to his Companion. And fo the Targitvt and other ancient Interpreters, / hk Fellow : That is, a, Prophet bred in,the fame School with-himfelf ; Who well underftood the weight of thefe words, I com- . mand thee in the Name of the LORD. And #s,foon a; he was departed from hiw, a Lion. found him, and flew hint^] The Jews fay in the Title. Sanhedrin^ and other Places, that fome Prophets were put tq Death by the hand of Man, and others by the hand of God. They that prophecied what they were not told by God, or they that prophecied in the Name of Idols, were to be put to Death by the Judges* But they who concealed their Prophecy, or rebelled a Prophecy, their Death was by the hand of Ver. 3 7. the Fir ft Book, of KINGS. 301 Ver. 37. Then he found another Man, and faid finite Chapter me t I pray thee. And th* Man fmote him^ fo that in XX. failing he wounded him.'] The Intention of this was \s~*s^s that he might find the freer Accefs to Ahab> as a Sol- Verfe 37. dier well deferving: And that he might the better feign his Story : For in fuch a Matter the King, was not to be dealt withal, in downright words. Ver. 38. And the Prophet departed \ and waited for Verfe 28. the King by the way^ and difguifed himfilf^ with Afies n$on htf Face."] As a Man in. a very mournful Condi- tion. The Hebrews underftand it, that he covered his Face with a Vail, or an Handkerchief, or bound if about with a Fillet (for one cannot tell how Afoes fhould cover it) in token that he was wounded. So that the King could not know who he was. See Bo- chart his Canaan, Lib. 2. Cap* VIIF. Ver. 39. And as the King faffed ty^ he cried to Verfe 39* the King : And f aid, ihy Servant went out into the vtidft of the Battle.] He pretended that he had adventured his Life in the late Fight . Being ingaged in thehot- teft Service. And behold, a Man turned afide, and brought a Man unto tne, and f aid keep this Man. If by any means he be miljing, then thy Life foall be for his Life ; or -elft thoHJhalt fay a Talent of Silver*"] He pretended, I-fup- pofe, that his Captain having a Prifoner of great Qua- lity charged him with him : Telling him that he (hould be anfwerable for him with his Life, if he let him efcape 5 or redeem his Life with a greater Sum, of Money than he was able to pay. Ver. 40. And as thy Servant wasbufy here and there."] Verfe 4CS - Endeavouring in the Fight, to do the befk Service he was able every where. He was gone."] In.the Hebrew, he could not be found* . goa A M M E N 'I A R Y upon Chapter And the King of Ifrael faid unto him, fo [hall thy XX. Judgment be 5 thy felf haft decided itJ] Thou haft pro- WWI nounced thy own Sentence : According to your A- gfeement, fo (halt thou iufFer. He had forgot how he difmifled a greater Perfon willingly, elfe he could not have been fo hard-hearted as to condemn one that had offended unwillingly. But he foon made him think of it. Verfc 41* Ver. 41. And he haft td andtool^ away the A fits from his Face.~] Threw away his Difguiie immediately $ by pulling off the Cloth wherein his Face was wrap- ped. And the King of Ifrael Jifcovered him, that he was of the Prophets.] Some of the By- (landers perhaps knew him, when they faw his bare Face. Or, by the very Motion of his Eyes before he fpake (which tie did immediately) he fufficiently difcovered what he was. Verfc 41. Ver. 42. And he faid unto him, Thus faith the LORD, bccaufe thou haft let a Man go out of thy hand, whom I Appointed to utter Deftruftion.] For the Battle was the LOR-D's: And the Victory being obtained purely by the Divine Power, and the fingular Favour of God, Ahab ought not to have refolved how to difpofe of Bert-hadadt without God's leave : But have confulted him (who had put him into his Hands) what he would have done with him. For he was God's Pri- foner : Who was to have his part of the Spoil, which he would pleafe to chufe. Therefore thy Life (hall go for his Life,, and thy Peo- ple for his People?] The former part of this Decree of God, was fulfilled three Years after, when Ahab was killed in a Battle againft the Syrians, XXII. i, 2, 9, 4, &c. But the later part was deferred till the Reign of the Fir ft EooJ^of KING S. 303 of Hazael, who fulfilled it by the Wars he had with Chapter the Ifraelites, x Kings X. 32, 35. XX. Ver. 43. And the King of Ifrael went to his Houfe C/"W heavy and Jifyleafed : And came to SawariaJ] This Verfe 43 heavy Sentence turned all their Joy for the late Vi- ctory, into Mourning : Ahab being much troubled for what he had done, and for what he was like to fuffer. Chapter C H : A P. XXI. XXL Verfe I. \NDit cante to pafs after thefe *&**, Verfc J[\ that Naboth the Jezreelite had a Vintyard which was in Jezreel.'] After all thofe wonderful things which God had done, in giving fuch Vi&ories to Ahab, he coveted the Vineyard of a Neighbour of his. Which is pecuHarly noted, as Abartiael thinks, to have followed the foregoing Hiftory, to fet forth the extream great Wickednefs of Ahab : Who fpared Ben-badad, as Saul did Agag lUng of the Axtakkitts 9 and killed Naboth, that he might get his Vineyard- This was an high Aggravation of his Crime, that he bafely murdered a juft Ifradite^ and let an impious Enemy efcape. Hard by the Palace of Ahab King of SaMaria."] Not far from it, if not adjoyning to it : Being planted on $he fame rifing Ground, whereon the Palace flood $ for Vines thrort beft in Mountainous Places. Ver. 2. And Ahab Jpake nnt0 Naboth^ faying^ gfae Verfe Vas. me thy : Vineyard that 1 ma} r kAV& it for A- Garden of For a,Flower Garden, as forae underCfcand k. 504 A COMMENT ART #po Chapter Becaufe it if near my Houfe y and I will give thee f0r XXI. 'fj * better Vineyard than it : Or if it fee m good to thee, L/*V*\-r / will give the worth of it in Money. ~] This was a fair Propofal .* But the Law was again ft it. Verfe 3. Ver. 3. And Naboth faid to Ahab, the LORD forbid it me, that Iftould give the Inheritance of my fathers^ unto dee.'] As it is natural to all Men to value and love the ancient Pofleffions that have been in their Family ^ fo the Law of Mofes prohibited the Aliena- tion of Lands, from one Tribe or Family to another/ Unlefs a Man was reduced to Poverty, in which cafe he might fell it till the Jubilee $ but then it was to return to him. See XXV. Levit. 15, 25, 18. Now as Naboth was in no need, fo he considered that if he mould, out of refpect to the King, and merely to do him a Pleafure, part with his Vineyard, he (hould -never get it out of his hands at the Jubilee : Being made part of the Ground belonging to the Royal Palace. This makes it probable that Naboth was one of the ,feven Thoufand 5 who obferved the Law ftriftiy. Ver. 4. And Ahab came to hfr Houfe y heavy and dif- fteafefl.~] Juft as he had done, after the Prophet had pronounced the fevere Sentence again ft him, XX. 43- Bectnfe dftfx Word which Naboth the Jezreelite had fpoken unto him 5 for he hadfaid> I wlU not give thee the Inheritance of my Fathers?] Made him a peremp- tory Denial : Which he could not bear. And he laid him down upon his Bed^ and turned dtoay his Face, and would eat no Bread.'] He was fo vexed to be denied by a Subjeft, that he fell into fuch a Paffion, as made him lick, and took away his Stomach 5 and made Company unacceptable to him. In (hort, be was very melancholy. Ver. 5. the Firfl Bool^ of KING S. 305 Ver. $. And Jezabel his Wife came to him> and f aid Chapter why is thy Spirit fofnd^ that thou eateft no Bread Thou knoweft not thine own Power, but adeft like a Minor, who hath no Authority. Or, as Abarbinel underftands ft, can ft thou expeft things fhould go well in thy Kingdom, if thou haft neither Will nor Power to do any thing, In fuch a fmall Matter as this > Rr Chapter At ife, and eat Bread, and let tby Heart be merry : XXI. And IwiBgive thee the rtnejard of Naboth the Jezre- C/V'NJ elite.'] She would not have him trouble himfclf ; but leave her to accomplilh his Defires. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. So (he wrote Letters in Akab's Name, and fealed the/ft with hit Seal.} Thefe Seals were wont to be worn upon one of the Fingers of their Hand (XXII. Jerem* 24.) and never to be taken off Night nor Day, but when they ufed them. Which (hews (he was an audacious Woman that durft Real this from Ahatfs Finger (for it doth not appear he knew of thefe Letters) and write what (he pleafed in his Name ^ that is, ufe his Kingly Authority to what Purpofes (he thought good. Andfent the Letters ttnto the Eiders, and to the No- bles tkat were in hif City, dwelling with NabotbJ] The Ifiaelites, it feems, after their Separation from Judak, kept up the civil Polity which was ordained by Ma- fes (though they forfook his Religion) having Ei- ders and Judges in their feveral Cities, as they had here at Jez,red ; Where they had not only Elders^ but alfo Nobles : That is, Captains of Thoufands, and Hundreds, as Bon. Bertram obferves, Cap. XII; de Repub. Judaica. Ver. 9. Andjhe wrote in the Letters, faying, Pro- claim a Faft.~] As if there had been fomc grievous Crime committed, or fome great Calamity had befal- len them : Which all the People were to bewail, and purge themfelves from that Sin, left they alfo (hould become guilty. And confequently they were to fee the Crime punimed very feverely : For fnch Days of Fafting were fpent in puniming Offences, and doing Juftice, and praying to God for Pardon. Some ask where it was kept? And Vtoringa. thinks it might poffibly the Firjl Boo^ ef K I N G S. 30? poffibly be in the very Streets of the City: Where Chapter Ezra kept his Faft, VIII. Nehem. 1,2,3. XXI. And fit Naboth up ou high Among the People."] Ifi L^VNJ this Religious Atfembly of the People. For he being a Perfon of an illuftrious Houfe (as Jofiphut reports) was ordered to be fet in an honourable Place : That fo it might not be thought they condemned him out of Hatred, but with Grief and Refpeft to his Perfon . Being conft rained meerly by the Evidence given againft him. Yet, others will have it, that the rea- fon he was fet in an eminent Place, was only becaufe all People accufed and arraigned were wont fo to ap- pear before the Judges : That all the People might fee them, and hear what was ailed ged againft them, and the Proofs of it, and their Defence. Ver. 10. And fet two Men of Belial^} Men of roVerfe 10. Conference, that would fwear any thing for Mo* ncy. Before hint, to bear wit nefs againft him,fa}ing.~] Such was the Roman Cuftom alfo (which was mpft ratio- nal) that the accufed (hould have the Accufers Face to Face : As Feftuf faith, XXV. A8t 16. But fome think that (he need not have put her felf to this trouble, of proceeding in fuch a formal manner againft Naboth in a Court of Juftice 5 for by the Jut Regiuw men* tioned by Samuel (i. VIII. 14.) (he might have taken his Vineyard from him, by Ahalfs abfolute Power. But that is a great Miftake^ for Samuel onely meant, that their Kings would take the Fruits of their Vine- yard upon occafion for their Ufe : But not the Pof- feffion of the Vineyards themfelves 3 for fo all the Land might have become the King's: And that Jfiw Regium Jofephxs calls a mere Tyranny. Thou didft blajpheme God, and the King*] The He- brews fo much abhorred this Crime of BUfpbemy, R r 2 that 308 A COMMENTS KT upon Chapter that they would not exprefs it by its proper Name . XXI. But faid Bleft, inftead of Cttrfe $ as here and in the Book of Job. Now it was Death by the Law of M0- fes to blafpheme God, XXIV. Levit. 16. and by Cu- ftom it was Death to blafpheme the King, which is forbidden in thofe words, XX, Exod* 28. And per- haps they might ftretch that Law hither, which for- bad any Man, upon pain of Death, to curfe his Fa- ther or his Mother, XXL Exod. 17. For the Prince is the Father of his Country. But, to make all fure, they accufed Naboth of both, of Treafon againft God, and again ft the King : That fo the People might be the better fatisfied, to fee him ftoned. But there is difference to be obferved between thefe two : That i a Man had only blafphemed God, he was to be tried by the great Court at Jerufalem (as the Hebrew Do- dors tell us) and his Goods came to his Heirs : But when any Man was executed for Treafon again ft the King, his Eftate went to the Exchequer, being for- feited to him againft whom the Offence was commit- ted. And therefore it was that they accufed Naboth of this Crime, on purpofe that his Eftate might be confifcated , and Ahab enjoy his Vineyard. And they accufed him of Blafphemy againft God for other Reafons : That Juftice might be done the fooner up- on him ; or, as the Talmudifts fpeak, to increafe their Indignation. $ee Selden de Succejpowlw-, Cap. XXV. FoL 87, 88. And then carry him out.'] Not merely out of the Aflembly, but out of the City, v. 13. For in the Wil- dernefs, and before the Conqueft of Canaan, they ex- ecuted" Punimments without the Camp, XXIV.Lz/#. 15, VII. Jofh. 24. and afterwards without the Gate of the City .* Whereby they intended to teftify that they would take the Evil out of the midft of them, and not the Fir ft Boo\ of KINGS. not fuflfer Wicked nefs to remain among them. So it Chapter is explained, v. 13. See Grotiu* XXVII. Math. 32, XXI. Andftone him that he may die.~] For this was theXX"V^*f Punifhtnent of Blafphemy : As we fee by their attempt to ftone our Saviour, and their killing St. Steven in this manner. Concerning this Punimmenr, fee the Sanhedrin^ Cap. VI. Ver. 11. And the Men of the City, even the Elders ^ Verfe li^ and the Nobles, who were the Inhabitants of hfc C/f/.] The Principal Inhabitants. Did as Jezabel had fent-ttnto them, and of Jhe had written in the Letters which fhe had fent unto thentj] Perhaps (he fent private Meflengers to tell them by word of Mouth, what (he expefted from them, and how (he would reward them : As well as publick Letters to authorize what they did. And Princes never want Inftruments to execute their Pleafure : But , r it is much there (hould be none among the Judges, and great Men, that abhorred fuch Villany . Which argues the great Corruption of their Manners by Ido* latry. Ver. 12. They proclaimed aFaft, and fet Naboth on Verfe WT+ high among the People. Ver. 13. And there came in two Men, Children and the Ktng^] This fig* nifiesnomore, but that they had the Impudence pub- Tickly to teftifie a Falfity. Though Bertram in the Book before- mentioned, Cap. XII. from thefe words In the prefenteof the People^ a^ues, PoteftatemPoputi^ the: 3 io A CO MM ENT4RY upon Chapter the Power of the People in this Kingdom : Becaufe XXI. thefe fuborned Witneues gave their Teftimony, be* V^V^J fore them. So that it was a mixed Government, like ours, confiding of the Power of the King, of the Nobles, and or the People. If this be true, it argues all the People of that Place to be very wicked 5 in that none of them excepted again ft the Teftimony of fuch Perfons, which ought not (as Maimonides ob- ferves) to have been admitted. Then they carried him forth Natotbb floned, And K dead?] They knew that the Order cwne from her 5 and therefore let her know they had obey- ed it. Verfe 1 5. Ver. * 5* And H cam to ptfs, when Jeiabel beard that Naboth rvasftoned, and was dead, that Jezabel faid to Ahal^ take Poffejjion of the Vimytrd ofNaboth the fa,* reditC) which he refitfed to give thee fer Mvnej : For -Naboth if not alive, but dead."] But by what Title did betake Poffefiion > The Hebrews^ I obferved before, think it was by the right of Confiscation : Which was pra&ifed in all fuch Crimes againft the King. See upon 2 Sam. IX. 7. and Grot/iff upon I. Jojh. 18. and upon this Place. Though others think, he took Pof- feffion, for want of Heirs : His Children being con- Verfe i6.demned with him. Ver. 16. And it came to pafs, when Ahab heard tb*t Naboth was dead^ that Ahab rofo up to go down to the rintytrd ofNaboth the Je*reelite, to take Po/ejflon cfitJ] He could not but know how Naboth died $ and there- fore by this commented to that Wickednefs: Which was committed alfo by his Authority, v. 8. Ver. 1 7. the Firft Boo^of KINGS. 311 Ver. 17. And the Word of the LORD came to Elijah Chapter the Tijhbite, fayingr\ Some lelfer Prophets were em- XXL ployed in the late Mefiage,fent unto him, XX. 13, 28, LXVNJ jf. But upon this great occafion God fends E///4J&, Verfe !? whom he dreaded, not merely to reprove him, but to condemn him to a PuniQiment fuitable to the Grime he had committed. Ver. 1 8. Arife, go down to meet Ahab King of If- Verfe 18. raef, which if in Sawaria.'] That is, who reigns in Sa^ at art a, v. i. Behold, he if in the Vineyard of Naboth^ whither be if gone down to poflefr it."] That he might be fUre not to lofe his Labour, he tells him where he might find him. Ver. 19. And thon {halt fpeak unto him, fajzng, Thw Verfe 19* faith the LORD, haft thou killed, anj alfo taken Pof- fejfion . faying* Thw faith the LORD, in the place where Dogs licked the Blood efNa" loth, jhatt Dogs lick thy Blood, even thine.'] He de- clares the Caufe of this judgment upon him, but doth not affign the Place : For the Dogs Ikkt Ahab's "Blood in Sawaria, XXII. 38. Therefore thefe words mould be tranflated, as the Dogs foJ$d, or in like manner z$ they licked Naboth's Blood, (b (hall they lick thine : . Mark what I fay, even thine. Ver. 20. And Ahab faid to Elijah, haft then found Verfe 2-a me, my Enemy .?] As much as to fay, Wilt thou ne* ver fuffer me to be quiet > How dareft thou to appear in my Prefence again, with fuch terrible Threat-,- An&l 3 i2 A COMMENTART upon Chapter And he anfaered, I have found thee 5 becanfe thou haft XX I. fold thy felf to vporl^ evil in the fight of the LORD.] L/^W They that fell them felves, are wholly under the Pow- er of their Matters : So was Ahab under the Power of Sin ^ a perfect Slave to his fmful Lufts and Paffions, which hurried him into the fouleft Crimes. Vcrfe xi. Ver. 2i. Behold , I will bring Evil upon thce t and will take away thy Poflerity, and mil cut off from Ahal hint that pijjeth again (I the WaU^ and him that if flmt up, and left in Ifrael. See upon XIV. 10. . Veife 22. Ver. 22. And I will make thy Houfelik* the Hottfe of Jeroboam the Son ofNebat^ and like the Uoufe of Baa/ha, the Son of Ahijah^ for the Provocation wherewith thou haft frovokgd me to anger , and made Ifrael toJ/nJ] Thefe two Families were utterly extirpated (See XV. 29. XVI. n, n,8cc.) as he prophecied Ahab's (hould be. Vcrfe 2^. Ver. 23. And ofjezabel alfo, foake the LORD, fay- ing^ the Dogs jhtM eat Jezabel, by the Wall of JezrceL~] In the Territory where Naboth was judged, aqd un- 'jiiftly condemned. Ver(e 24. Ver. 24. Him that dieth of Ah*b in the City the Dogs Jhaff eat y and him that dieth in the Field [halt the Fowls of the Air eat."] See XIV. n. Vcrfe 25. Ver. 25. But there was none like itnto Ahab^ which did fell himfelf to work. Wickfdnefs in the Sight of the LORD."} Made himfelf a perfe^ Bond-flave to all manner of Wickednefs. Whom Jezabelhfr Wifeftirred p.] Which, did not excufe him, yet fomething mitigated his Punifhment : For fhe died more miferabfy than he. A 6. Ver. 26< And he did very abominably in following Idols , according to all things, as did the Amorites^\ There was no Abomination which the People of Ca- n**n committed (wtio are here called the Amorites accord iog tie Firft Book, of K I N G S. 31 according to the ancient Language, XV. Gen, 1 6.) Chapter which he did not imitate. XXI. W hsfft the LORD cafl out before the Children of If- *^~v~^ rael.'] As he intended to caft out the whole Family of Ahab: Who by God's Judgments upon the Amorites, might have taken warning not to tread in their Steps. Ver. 27. And it came topafswhen Ahab heard */&*/ Verfe 27. words, that he rent his Clothes ^ and put on Sackcloth up- on his Fle/bj andfafted, and lay in Sackcloth, and went foftly.~] All thefe were Expreflions of very great Sor- row and Heavinefs : Which were ufual in Mourning. And the la ft words the Chaldee Paraphraft tranflates, he went barefoot. But it is reje&ed by the greateft part of Interpreters, who take it as we do : For fuch a flow pace as fignified he was reduced to great Weak- nefs and Feeblenefs of Body, by fafting, and Grief 5 or that he had no heart to go about any Bufinefs. The Jews tell us In Pirke Eliefer, Cap. XL1II. that he fent to Jehofljaphat King of Judah, who came and gave him a certain Number of Stripes every Day 5 and that three times in a Day. But without this fabulous Ad* dition, here is enough to fignify that he was extream- ly caft down, and very much troubled ^ I cannot fay for his Sin, but for the heavy Punifhment God had laid upon him. It is likely, indeed, forthepre- fent he might have fome fenfe of his Sins : But it did not laft to bring him to true Repentance 3 that is, to make him forfake them. For we read not fo much as of any Restitution of the Vineyard 5 much lefs of his forfaking Idols. Ver. 28. And the Word of the LORD cam to //;^Verfe 28. the Tifibite, tying. SC Ver. 29, 314 A COMMENTARY Chapter Ver.2p. Seeft thon howAhab httmbleth himfelf before me? XXI. Becattfe he humbleth himfelf before ine7\ Which neither L/"V\J Jeroboam y nor Baa/ha had done, but obftinately went Verfe 39on, without the leaft token of Sorrow when the fame Doom was paffed on them. / will not bring the evil in his days : But in hi* Son's days will I bring the evil upon his f/oufe.~] Such a Power there is in hearty Repentance and Reforma- tion of Life to obtain a Pardon $ that God remitted part of Ahab's Punifhment, at leaft deferred it, upon this imperfect Repentance. Which argued fome de- gree of Belief of what the Prophet faid : And accor- dingly it was his Son's Blood, not his, which was licked up by the Dogs in that Portion of ground, where Naboth's was, ^ Kings IX. x$, 2 6. Chapter XXII. CHAP. XXII. Verfe i. Verfe i. A ND they continued three Tears."] Not X\ compleat, but part of three Years. See 2Cnw*.XVIH. 2. Without War between Syria and Ifrael.] Though God was very angry with Ifrtel, and intended to plague them by the Syrians : Yet his Anger being deferred for fome time upon Ahab's Humiliation , Elijah did not caufe Hazael to be anointed King of Syria, who was to be rhe Executioner of God's Wrath, becaufe it was prolonged for the reafon now named. Thus Abarbinel. Verfe i, Ver. x. And it came to pafs that in the third Tear, Jehofhaphat King of Jttdah came down to the King of Jfrael.~] For there was an Affinity made between him and. t be Firjl Book, of K I N G S. 315 and Ahab (2 Chron. XVHI. i.) Jehofhtphat's Son ha- Chapter ving married Ahab's Daughter, -L Kings VIII. 18. XXII. Ver. 3. And the King oflfraelfatd unto hit Servants, LXWi Know ye that Ravtoth-Gilead is ours -^ and we beflill^^^- 3. and take it not out of the hand of the King of Syria. . G0 up to Ramoth-Gilead, and profper : For the LORD ffjall deliver it into the Kings hand.~] Every one of them accorded in the fame Senfe 5 that he (hould cer- tainly be vidorioHS. Ver. 13. And the Mejjenger that was gone to caH, Mi." Vef fc I a* caiahfpake unto him, faying, Behold now the words cf the Prophets declare good unto the King with one Mouth; Let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them* and fpeak^that which if good.'] So mightily did the Opinion of Univerfality : fway with the fuperfti- tious People, that the Meffenger thought he could . perfwade Micaiah not to difient from the reft: Left he (hould fall under the Cenfure of Singularity, Peeviflmefs, and Privacy of Spirit. And thus it is 318 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter in the Church at this Day, as the fame excellent Do- XXil. ftor there oblerves. v^OTNJ Ver. 14. And Mtcaiah faid, of the LORD liveth, Verfe i^-^hat the LORD faith unto me, that -mill I fpeaki] He Teems as yet to have no Revelation about the matter : But when the Queftion was put to him, God taught him what to anfwer. Verfe 15. Ver. 15. So he came to the King, and the King f at d unto him, Micaiah, Jhatt we go againfl Ramoth-Qjlead to Battle, or {hall vet forbear >] The very fame Que- ftion, that had been askt the reft of the Prophets, v. 6. And he anfwered him, Go, and profper, for the LORD [hall deliver it into the hand of the King.~] And he gave the very fame Anfwer, in the fame words, that the other Prophets had done, v. 12. But fpake them in fuch a manner, that AhaB plainly difcerned, he derided and mocked : It being as if he had faid, To what purpofe (hould I contradict your Prophets > For you have a mind to go, and do fo$ try the Truth of their Prediction. Verfe 1 6. Ver. 16. And the King faid unto him, how ntanj times Jhall / adjure thee, that than tell me nothing but th*t which if true, in the Name of the LORD >] He had not adjured him at all 5 but now he doth : And would do it again, and again, if he did not fpeak ferioufly, and tell him what God faid to him : Which Micaiah had not yet done. For he doth not ufe the common Preface of Prophets, to the foregoing An- fwer, Thus faith the LORD : Becaufe he did not fpeak in God's Name, but in his own. Verfe 17. Ver. 17. An d he faid, I faw all Ifrael fcattered upon the Hilts."] Routed and flying from their Enemies, to the Hills for Safety. At the Firfl BooJ^of KINGS, 319 At Sheep that have not a. Shepherd."] In a moft mife- Chapter rable Condition, as Sheep are without a Shepherd to XXII. look after them : 'They being neither ftrong, nor cunning, nor nimble and fwift of Feet 5 but expofed to the Injuries of all Creatures, when they are left to themfelves without a Shepherd. Which is very of- ten repeated in the Scriptures, as if it were a Prover- bjal Speech among the Hebrews, XXVJI. Numb. 17. 2 Chron. XVIII. 16. X. Zachar. 2. XIII. 7. IX. Matth. 36. And the LOR D faid, thefe have no Mafier.~\ They have loft their King and Governour : Who was re- prefented by the Shepherd before-mentioned. Let them return every, Man to hit Hottfe, in Peace."] All go home and think no more of War : Having loft their Ruler. This was an exaft Reprefentation of what followed. Ver. 1 8. And the King of Ifrael faid unto Jehofha-V&fe pto, did I not tell thee that he would prophefy no good concerning me, but evil ~J He had always been wont to bring threatning Meflages from God to him : And therefore was not (as the Jews imagine) the Prophet who brought him that gracious Meflagc, when Bet** hadad treated him foinfolently, XX. 13. Ver. 19. And he faid, hearthou therefore the JFWVerfe l@ of the LORD."] If thou doft not delight onely in Lies, hear what I have further to fay from the LORD. Ifdw the LORD fitting on hjf Throne, and all th* Hoft of Heaven ftanding by him, on his right band, and on his left."] This is a Parabolical Speech, as Abarbinel calls it, fignifying that there was a greater King than Ahab, who would judgehim according to his Works. And in a Vifion he faw him fitting on a Throne, for that purpofe, and attended by the Heavenly Hoft, as Ahab was by his Prophets/ Some on his.77* hand, by, ^ COMMENTARY njxm Chapter by which many think he means the good Angels $ and XXII. fome on his left hand, by which are meant the bad, V^VV> who are the Executioners of his Judgments, when he pleafes. Verfe 2O, Ver. 20. And the LORD faid, who fiall perfwade Ahab, that he may go wp, and fall at Ramoth Gilead.~] it is not to be thought there was any fuch Confulta- tion before the Divine Majefty, who (hould be em- ployed to perfwade htm to undo himfelf : But thefe Reprefentations are contrived to bringdown invifible things to the meaneft Capacities of Men. Who were to know that the LORD refolved to let Ahab be de- ceived and perith at Rantoth-Gilead, rather than any other Place: That he who let Ben-hadad efcape, might be punithed by Ben-hadad. And one faid on thfc manner, and another on that t*anner.~] This is faid, only to fignify that God hath many ways of bringing Men to Ruine, when he de- -crees it. ^Tcrfe XI. Ver. 21. And there came forth a Spirit, and flood be- fore the LORD and fatd^ I will perfwade him7\ This is not to be underftood literally 5 but that there are vil Spirits who are very forward to entice Men to their own Deftru&ion, and have Power fo to do, if the LORD do not hinder them. Verfe aa. Ver. 22. And, the LORD faid unto him, wherewith."} God was not ignorant of what he could, and would do: But this is faid, to reprefent more familiarly to vulgar Underftandings, by what means Ahab was Jed into Deftruction. And he f aid, I witi go forth ^ and will be a lying Spi- rit in the Mouth of his Prophets.'] Suggeft to them, that which will deceive him. And the Fir ft Book, of K I N G S. 321 And he faid, thoti fljalt perfaade him, and prevail Chapter atfo: Go forth and do Jo.] God permitted this lying XXII. Spirit to follow his own fnclinations, which he knew would have Succefs, and prevail with Ahab to believe he fhould profper in this War/ Wherein God intend- ed he fbould bedeftroyed. For the Prophets had ob- ferved how profperous Ahab had been in former Wars with the King of Syria: Which made them forward to promife the fame Succefs in this alfo. And Ahab was as forward to believe it, as they were toaflureit. Ver. xg. Now therefore^ behold^ the LORD hathVctk put a lying Spirit in the Month of attthefe thy Prophets.'] They were properly Ahab's Prophets , not the LORD'S : Who only employed them to miflead him. And the LORD hath fpoken Evil concerning thee^ The LOrXD had decreed he (bould perim in this War: And in order to it ftirred up the Spirit of the Pro- phets (as Abarbinel fpeaks) to prophecy according to their own Inclination j and him to believe them, and ru(h into his own Ruine. Ver. 24. And Zedekjah the Son ofChenaanahwentVtfa near.~] He feems to be the chief of Ahab's Prophets : The Head perhaps of the whok College. And faote Micaiah on the Cheek.'] By way of Re- proach and Scorn, XX. Jerem. 2. XIV. S, MarJ^^. and other places. Andfaid, which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me, to fptak. unto thee.~\ He was confident he had the Spirit, and could not imagine how it (hould de- part from him, and enter into Micaiah^ bidding him contradift all that he, and his Brethren had pro- phecied. Ver. 25. And Micaiah faid^ behold, thoujhtltfee /wVerfc that day, when thott foalt go into an inner Chamber^ Into a (ecret Place, XX. 30. T t A COMMENTARY upon Chapter To hide thyfilf.] For fear he (hould be feized and XXII. punifhed as a falfe Prophet, and the Caufc of Ahab\ L/VNJ Death. Verfe 26- Ver. 26. And the King of Ifrael faid, tat? Micaiah and carry him back^ to Amon the Governour of the City, and to Joafh the Kings Son.~] It feems he was in Cu- ftody, when he was fent for by the MefTenger, to come to Ahab. Verfc *;. Vcr. 27. And, fay ', Thu* faith the Kittg, put this Fellow in Prifon-"] He ordered him, I fuppofe, to be kept a clofer Prifoner than before. And feed hint with the Bread of Affliction, and the Water of Affliction, till I come again in Peace.'] He would not have him ftarved, but fed with coarfe Bread, and bad Water 5 till he came home and brought Victory along with him. And then perhaps he intended to put him to Death. Verfc 28. yen 28. And Micaiah faid, if thou return at aU in Peace, the LORD hath notfpokgn by me. And hefaid> hearken People 3 every one of you.'} He defires all the People to mark, and be Witnefles of what he faid : And take this for a Sign whether he was a true Pro* phet or no. Verfe 29. Ver. 29. SotheKingoflfraet, and Jehofoaphat King ofjudahi went up to Ramoth-Gilead.'] Notwithftand- ing the long Declaration Micaiah had made of God's Decree (which was altogether concerning Ahah) Je- hofhaphat gave fome Credit to the other Prophets, who fpake in the Name of the LORD, as well as he. See upon v. 7. Verfe 30. Ver. 30. And the King of 'Ifrael faid unto Jehofljaphat^ I will difguife my felfc and enter into the Battle^] Like a private Man. But put thott on thy Robes."] Appear like a King. And the King of Ifrael difgutfed himfdf, and went into the Firft Boo\ ef K I N C S. 325 the Battle.'] He knew they would aim moft at Chapter him, as the Author of this War $ and therefore he XXII. would not be known : But gives Jehofiaphat the Ho- nour (as he pretended) of leading the Army, and appearing as the chief Commander of it. But this feems a very odd Complement, to pray him to ex- pofe himfelf to the Danger, which he Qiunned. Therefore others render it, put on thefe Robes (which he then offered him) After my Example, lay thy Cloak, tlae Garment of a chief Commander afide . And put on thefe Robes. For he brought a double change of Raiment into the Field : That neither of them might be known by their Clothes. Ver. 31. And the King of Syria, commanded hit Vcrfe thirty two Captains^ who had rule over his Chariots."] Which were divided, it is likely, into fo many di- ftinft Bodies. Saying^ fight neither with fmaU nor great."] With common Soldier, or Officer, belonging to Jehofhaphat. Save only with the King of Ifrael!} Whom he lookt upon (as I faid) as the fole Author of the War .- In- to which he had drawn JC hofiap hat. Ver. 32, And it came to paft^ when the Captains d/Verfe the Chariots faw Jehoftaphat, they faid furelj it if the King of IJrael.~] Which (hows that whatfoever his Robes were, he looked like more than a common Man. And they turned a/tde to fght with him* and Jehojhd- phat cried out."] Unto the LORD for help. Who de- li vered him, and moved them to depart from him, as we read in 2 Chron. XVIII. 31. Ver. 33. And it came to p aft, when the Captains o/Verfe the Chariots perceived that it was not the King oflfrael^} By his calling upon the LORD for help . Or, per- haps, fome of them knew him. T t a Tb*t A COM MEN1AK Y H Chapter That they turned iack^from purfuing him.~\ WhiclV XXII. was to be afcribed to the fecret Providence of God, as- C^Wi Ezra tells us in the place above-named : Who refolved as wonderfully to prefer ve Jehojhaphat, as to deftroy Ahab. Verfe 34. Ver. 34. And a certain Man drew a Bom at a venture + and fntote the King ofJfrael, between the joynts of the Harnefr.'] The LORD, no doubt, directing the Arrow to that part, where it mould penetrate into his Vital Parts. The LXX. into his Bread , through his Lungs . For it cntred between his upper and lower Armour. Wherefore he faid to the Driver of hi* Chariot, turn thj. hand, and carry me out of the Hoft, for I ant wound- ed^ He bid him drive to fome place, where he might look after his Wound, which was very painful to him.. l&erfe 35. Ver. 35* And 'the Battle increafed that Day: And the King wasftayed up in hif Chariot againft the Syrians^ and died at EvenJ] There was a {harp Fight after this : Infomuch that the King, for fear his Soldiers mould run away, would return into the Field notwith* Handing his Wounds, and be fupported in his Cha- riot to encourage his Army, till the Even parted them, and then he died. And the Blood ran out of the Wound, into the midft of the Chariot."] It could not be ftanched by any means they could ufe 5 but ran out of his Body into his Chariot. Verfe \6. ^ er - 36* And there went a Proclamation throughout the Hoft about the going down of the *#, faying, Every Man to his City, and every Man to his own Country."] I fuppofe, Jehojhaphat ordered a Retreat to be founded .- And the Syrians, it is likely, were content to be gone, having (lain their capital Enemy. By this Proclama- tion, the Firft Boo\ of KINGS. 3 2 ^ lion, the Predi&ion of Micaiah was exa&ly fulfilled. Chapter according to his Vifion, v. 17. XXII. Ver. 37. Stf the King died> and was brought to Sa- i^s^r^s tttaria, and they buried the King in SantarU. . Verfe 37. Ver. 38. And one waflsed the Chariot in the Pool 0/Verfe Samaria, and the Dogs licked up the Blood, and they wafhed hi* Arntor^ according to the Word of the LORD which hefpake."] The Dogs licked up the Blood, which was mixed with the Water, wherewith his Chariot arid Armour were warned : The LXX. add the word ut$, as if Swine as well as Dogs had licked it up. But as there is no fuch word in the Hebrew^ fo neither is it in the Chaldee, Arabic^ or Syriacfa no, nor in the Latin Translation. And it is very abfurd : Swine being not commonly kept in this Country. Ver. 39. Now the reft of the A fts of Ahab, and al/tkatVerk he did) and the Ivory Honfe that he made, and aU the Citiet that he built , are they not written in the Book^ of the Chronicles of the Kings of Ifrael .as.jicki\ Was bruifed, and perhaps fell into a Fever. 3 3 o A COMMENTARY npon Chapter And he fent Meffengers, and f aid unto them, go en- I. quire of Baal-zebub the god ofEkron, whether I flail re- cover of this Difeafe . which were the Titles of Jupiter and Hercules 5 becaufe they were thought to free their Countries from Flies. With which the Ekronites were peftered, lying in a moift, and hot Soil, near to the Ocean. Theodoret, Proco- piw, and others, think they worfhipped this god in the Image of a Fly : But the later of them doubts whether it was the Name of a Dtnton, or of an old Woman canonized for a goddefs. And after all, Mr. Selden thinks the reafon of this Name cannot be found. But the moft probable Conjecture is, that he was fo called from the Cure of a contagious Dif- eafe. For Pliny tells us, that there being a great Pe- ftilence in Africa^ which was brought among them by a Multitude of Flies, it was extinguifhed by the killing of them all after they had facrificed to the god Achore. He (hould have faid, the god worlhipped at Ekron : From whence that Word Acbore plainly came. Lib. X. Nat. Hift. Cap. XXVII. and if this was the Orignal of the Name, it is no wonder that Ahaziah fent to enquire of him about his Sicknefs, fince he was thought fo powerful, as to cure the Peftilence. Ver. 3. the Second Boo^ ef K I N G S. 351 Ver. 3. But the Angel of the LORD faid to Elijah Chapter the Tijkbite, arife, go up to meet the MeJJengers of the I. King ef Samaria, and fay unto them. Is it not becattfe lXV\J there is not a, God in Ifrael^ that ye go to enquire ofBa- Vcrfc . al-z>ebub the god of Ely on . That he knows nothing, nor can do any thing? Which makes you fend to Ekjron^ as if there was a more knowing, and mighty, if not the only God there. Ver. 4. And now therefore, thus faith the LORD, Vcrfe 4. thou /halt not come down from the Bed, on which thoti art gone up, but fhalt furely die. And Elijah departed.] Unto Mount Carmel 9 it is very probable : For he was prefently after this, fitting on the top of a Hill, v. 9. Ver. 5. And when the Mejffengers turned back^ #*f0Vcrfe f. him, he f aid, why are you now come backj~\ He knew by their fpeedy return that they had not executed his Command, and asked the reafori. Ver. 6. And theyfaid unto him, there came up a Man Verfe 6 to meet u* y and faid unto *sf, go turn back, unto the iOmr that fent you, and fay unto him, Thtts faith the LORD, Is it not becaufe there is not a God in Ifrael^ that thou fendeft to enquire of Baal-zebub the God of Ekron ? Therefore thou {halt not come down from the Bed) on which thou art gone p, but /halt furely die."] Elijah was a Man of fuch a venerable Prefence, and fpake to them with fuch Authority, in the Name of the LORD, that they were over-awed thereby to obey him, rather than the King. U u 2 Ver. 7. A- CO MlMENTrtRY Chapter Ver. 7. And he faid unto tkent^ what manner of Man I. was he that came to meet you, and told yon thefe words. ~] LXN^SJ He was not fo angry at them for not obeying him, Vcrfe 7. as defirous to know who he was that was.fo prefum- ptuous as to flop their Journey. Verfe 8. Ver. 8, And they an fiver ect him , he was an harry Man, and girt with a Girdle of Leather about his l^oyns : And hefaid) it if Elijah the Tifibite^] Some think he is faid to be an hairy Man, becaufe he had long Hair on his Head and his Beard, like the Greek Philofbphers : But it is more probable, it was becaufe he was clad with an hairy Garment, which the Prophets were wont to ufe XX. Jfaiah 2. XIH. Zachar. 4. III. St. Matth. 4. and indeed the Leathern Girdle (hew what kind of Garment he wore. , See Dr. Hammond upon the place laft mentioned, Annot. d. This was the fimpleri, and raoft ancient Garment, and therefore the old Heroes are faid, to have been cloathed in the Skins of Lions, or Tigers, or Bears, Sky And per- haps by this rdde Habit the Prophets exprefled their great Grief, for the fad Condition the Israelites wete in, when they came to call them to. Repentance. Ver. 9. Then the King fent unto him a Oafldin of fifty with kit fifty, and he went wp unto him.~] Not to the place where he was, but fo near that he might hear him deliver his MefFage. And behold . he fat upon the top of an MU: Andhefpa\e unto hiw^ Thou Man of God, the King halh faid, ebtne down7\ Sent him with an Order, to command him to come dovvn to him. But the Prophet thought he did but mock him, when he called him a Man of God, as appears by the Punifhment he inflicted on him. For it is as if he had faid, Thou that calleft thy felf $ Man of God, come down, or I will fetch thee. He would not be at the pains to go to the top of the HiJh the Second Boo^of KING S. 3 3 3 Hill : But thought it fufficient to require him, in the Chapter King's Name, to come down, and furrender himfelf j. into his hands. \x^/-** Ver. IO. AndElijah*nfvt>eredandfaiditntoiheAp-V$ife, fo tain of fifty, If 1 he a Man of God, then let Fire c# we down from Heaven, and confttme thee nnd. thy fifty. And there came down Fire frvm Heaven, and tvnfnmed him and fa fifty. 1 If I be a Man Of God, as thou fayett, but doft not think, then I am not bound to obey the King, but God (as Abarlinel glofles upon thefe words) Nor am I fabjeft to his Power, but unto God's : Who will make thee know that he judges in the ,. Earth. And immediately he and his Men were con- fumed with Lightning, according to Elijah's Word, Whocbofe to deftroy them by Fire from Heaven v (as he goes on) becaufe he had at Mount Carmel called for Fire to confome the Sacrifice. Which Miracle- they r (lighting, and comicg now in a proud' manner to ) carry htm by force to Samaria (where'he knew Jexa- , bel would put him to De^th) he called for Fire ; to ^ confume them. Ver. 1 1 . 'Agaiw alfohe fint nnto him anvther Captain y er f e l , tf fifty, with h* fifty, and he anfoered *nd faid unto b'tKf, Man of <$od, thus hath the 7G#g faid, come dwnqnick}y.~] Thi^ Man was more ihfolenr than the former, charging the Prophet to obey without detay, and not make him flay : Or think to dally with him, And by the following words, it -appears, this was'lhe .. Voice of the whole Company* Ver. 1 2. And Elijah anfwered and fad unto thtm> ?/ Veffe , '/ bt a Man of God, let Fire come down frcm Heaven, and confume thes, And thy fifty. And the Fire 'of <3od same down from Heaven, and con fumed him and his * fifty^] He kwew that Evil was determined agaihft htrti . by dha&ah, and therefore .defended himfelf, IB thls'-^ manner, 334 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter manner, from his Cruelty : That he might be afraid L to meddle with him, when he faw the Divine Ven- geance fo terrible againft thofe that came to appre- hend him. Ver. 13. And he fcnt again A Captain of tie third fifty, with his fifty : And the third Captain went up, and came, and fell on his Knees before Elijah, and befought him, and j aid unto him, Man of God, 1 pray thee let my Life, and the Life ofthefe fifty thy Servants, be precious in thy fight.] He humbly intreated him, on his bended Knees, to fpare his Life, and the Lives of thofe that accompanied him, who did not come wil- lingly, much lefs of their own accord : But were com- manded by their Lord and Matter to make known his Pleafure to him. Vcrfe 14. Ver. 14. And behold, there came Fire from Heaven, and burnt up the two Captains of the former fifties, with their f pies : Therefore let my Life now be precious in thyfigM.'] He was fenfible of the hand of God againft thofe, that came with fuch a Command before ; and acknowledges he was at Elijah's Mercy : But hoped he would take Companion upon him .- Since he own- ed him really to be a Man of God, and believed his Power 5 as appeared by his falling down, moft reve- rently before him, and befeeching his Pity, and cal- ling thofe with him hit Servants. Verfc 15. Ver. 15. And the Angel of the LORD faid unto Elijah, go down with him, and be not afraid of him : And he arofe and went down with him unto the King.] This is a great Inftance of the Prophet's Faith and Obedience to God . Who he trufted would proteft him from the Wrath of the King, and the Malice of Jezabcl. Of whom he had great reafon to be afraid, having ordered the Prophets of Baal to be (lain, and now fent the King an unwelcome MeiTage, and done terrible the Second Book^of KINGS. 335 terrible Execution upon two of his Captains and their Chapter Companies. The firft of which made him fly the I. Country (i Kings XIX. 3.) Jezabel threatning his L/*VNJ DeftrucVion: And had conftrained him to conceal himfelf, for a long time, and not come to Samaria : Which was the reafon, as Abarbinel obferves, that we hear nothing of him in the War of Ben-hadad againft Ifrael (i K/g.XX.) nor in the War of Ahab againft Ben-hadad, Chap. XXII. But now having a Command from God for it, as he had in the cafe ofNabotb, he boldly goes to the Ring and confirms with his own Mouth, that ungrateful Truth, which he had already told him by his Meffenger. Ver. 1 6. And he f aid unto him, thu* faith the LORD, Verfe 16. forafwuch of thou haft fent Meffengers to enquire ofBa- al-zebub the god of Ekron (if it not kecaufe there jf no God tn Ifrae^ to enquire of hjf word ?) therefore thou fljalt not come down from off that Bed on which thou art gone tip $ but fljalt furely die.~] There was more Dif- courfe pa(Ted between them, no doubt, than this : But this was the Conclufion of all, that the Sentence which God had pronounced againft him, was irre- vertible : And therefore he (hould not think of living much longer, but make ufeof the time remaining, to repent of his Sins. Ver. 17. So he died according to the Word of LORD, which Elijah had fpoken.'] It is likely he told him the very Day, when he (hould die. And *jehoram reigned in his ftead, in thefecond Tear t of Jehoram the Son of Jehofiaphat King of Judah $ be- caufe he had no Sonf] Therefore this Brother of his fucceeded him. Who began to govern in this fecond Year of Jehofiaphai's Son , but was King before (XII. i.) only very young, and arfome of the Jews think, under the Care of Jehofiaphat. But Kimchi fcems to have Chapter have better reconciled this feeming Difference, That Jehojfiaphat declared his Son Jehortw King while he t^V*V> lived, and he reigned with.him feveti Years. The occalipn of which is intimated in iCbron. XX. 3. he gave the Kingdom to Jehorapt^ becaufe he wat thefirft- hori and gave Gifts to the reft of his Sons, Who being many, began to ftrive about the Succeffion to the Kingdom : Which belonging to the firft-born, Jtlwfiaphat to quiet all them, declared Jehown King together with himfelf, and he reigned with him fe- ven Years. When it is (aid therefore that Ahab's Je> horam reigned in the fecond Year of Jehoflxtphat's Son Jehoraw, the meaning is the fecond Year that he reigned with his Father Jchofiaphat, who was then li- ving. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. AW the, reft of the A8s of Ahaz,iah which he did, 4kr//#e/difcouf,fes) a place of great Hoiinefs: the SecwJ Bwl^ BRINGS. 337 Holinefs: Where the Ifraclites made their firft En- Chapter campment, after they entred the Land of Canaan: II. And where Jofhtta had fet up Twelve Stones, taken s ^v^*^ out of Jordan in Memory of their miraculous Paflage over that River. Here alfo Joflwa circumcifed the Israelites, and kept the firft Paflbver, and fet up the Tabernacle, and the Ark of the Covenant $ which (remained here a long time. Ver. 2. And Elijah fad unto Eli/ha, tarry here, /yr er r e . pray thee^for the LORD hathfent we to Beth-el,"] Ano- ther Place in ancient time- very holy, God appearing here to Jacob more than once, XXVIII. (Jen. 19. XXX V. 6, 9. This Elijah faid to try Eli/ba 5 for he did not intend to conceal his Aflumption into Hea- ven, and to have no Witneffes of it. His Humility indeed was great, but it was not fit to obfcure the Glory of God, which herein miraculouily appeared. And Elifljafaid unto him, as the LORD liveth, and as thy Soul liveth^ I will not leave thee : So they two went down to Bethel.~] They were not wont anciently to f \vear by the Name of God (out of the Reverence they bare to him) but by fome lefler thing which de- pended on it } as Jofeph did ly the Life of Pharaoh $ that is, as true as that Pharaoh lives. And Elrjha puts both here together, as fure as God liveth, and thon li- ve/I, I will not leave thee. See Grotitts dejure Belli & Pac#, Lib. II. Cap. XIII. N. II. Ver. 3. And the Sons of the Prophets that were at Be- Vcrfe 5. thel cante forth to El//ha.~] In thefe very corrupt times, and in that place where the Golden Calves were vvor- fhipped, God did not wholly forfake the Ifraeljtes : But continued the Schools of the Prophets among them. For by the Sons of the Prophets, are meant the Scholars of the Prophets, whom they educated, and trained up in Religion and Piety : And God, by De- X x grees, 338 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter grees, beftowed on fome of them the Spirit of Pro- II. phecy. This was a great Teftimony of God's Love to an Apoftate People : Among whom he left Pro- phets to recover them from their Idolatry. For even in the chief place of Impiety (which was Bethel) they were not wanting. And it is ftill more remark- able, that Prophets ot greater Excellency for their Miracles were continued in Jfrael than were in Jttdah : Becaufe they needed them more, to turn their hard Hearts from the Worfhip of Idols ^ and to fupport the pious Perfons that remained among them, and preferve them from deferting their Religion. For it feems to me very probable, that thefe Sons of the Pro- phets, were fuch Minifters to the Prophets, as the E- vangelifts were to the Apoftles : Whom the Prophets lent to publifh their Prophecies, and In ft ructions to the People : Where they could not go themfelves. And perhaps they taught them the Law of God, and explained it to them : Of which there was great need in thofe idolatrous times. And J "aid unto him, k&oweft than that the LORD will tal( away thy Mafter from thy head to day ?~} It was re- vealed to fome of them by God, and they told it to the reft of the Company of the Prophets. Who al- lude to their manner of fitting in their School, where they fay God would take aia>a y Elijah from his Head : That is, deprive him of his Inftru&ions. For, it is well known, that the Seholars fat below at their Ma- fters Feet, and the Matter above over their Head, when they taught them. And he faid, yea, I kpow #, hold you your ?eac&7\ Say no more of it : I would not be difturbed with the Thoughts of it. Or, let not my Matter know, that I underftand it. the Second Book^ of KING S. 335; Ver. 4. And Elijah fad unto Eliflja, tarry here /Chapter thee ] He doth not lay his Commands upon him II. (as he did unto a former Servant, i King. XIX. 3.) L/"Wi but only intreats him, and in a more tender manner Verfe 4-' than he did before, to accompany him no further. For the LORD hath fent me to Jericho.'] Another remarkable Place, as Abarhinel pbferves, to which he went . That as Mofes when he turned his Face towards this Place (XXXIV. Dent, j.) departed this Life ; fo this mould be the laft place wherein Elijah would remain, before he left the World. A Place alfo Fa- mous for many Miracles done there. And he f aid) at the LORD liveth, and as thy Soul livethj I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho^] He hoped for fome great Bleffing from him, when he was carried up to Heaven : And therefore continued firm in his Refolution, to attend that wonderful Change. Ver. 5. And the Sons of the Prophets that were atje- Verfe $. richo, came to Eliflja^ and faid unto him, ktzowejl thou that the LORD williakf away thy Maftcr from thy head to day ? And he faid, yea, I know it, hold you your peace."] Here was another School, where the fame Ho- ly Spirit revealed the Mind of God to them.} as it had done at Bethel. And it is a probable Opinion of Kimchi) who affirms there were the like Schools in other Cities of Jfrael. Ver. 6. And Elijah faid unto him , tarry here I pray Verfe 6. thee, for the LORD hathfent me unto Jordan.] Ano- ther Place, where God had wrought great Wonders. Not far from which, as Kintchi notes, the great Pro- phet Mefes died 5 and therefore God intended to tranflate Elijah near to this place. And he faid, as the LORD liveth, and as ihy Soul Uveth, I will not leave thee $ and they two went o#.~] From Jericho, to the River Jordan. X x 2 Ver. 7. 34 o A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Vcr. 7. And fifty Men of the Sons of the Prophets, II. went, Andftoad to view afar off T) They were confident t^V\J the time of his Affumption drew near, and were very Vcrfe 7 defirous, if it were poflible, to fee the manner of it. But were not admitted to accompany him to the place, where he was taken up to Heaven, as ///;< did : For they took this View at Jericho, v. 1 5. And they two flood by Jordan^] The reft being for- bidden, 1 fuppofe, to go thither with him. Verfc 8. Ver. 8. And Elijah took, hn Mantle, and wrapt it to- gether^] This Mantle of his is mentioned five times in thefe Books, thrice in this Chapter, and twice in i King. XIX. 13, 19. In all which places it is called/ AdAreth : Which is a word fignifying a Royal Robe, as well as a Prophetical, \\\.Jonah 6. The LXX. in. all th five Places now mentioned, tranflate it /LM>AC>- TO, which properly fignifies the Prophetical Mantle to be made of Lamb-skin. Being an upper Garment, thrown over the Shoulders, and fome think coming down to the Heels. Andfmote the Waters, and they were divided father and thither y fo that they., two went over on dry Growrd^ God made a dry Path in the middle of the River}, whofe Waters ftood on each fide of it. Vcrfe Q ^ cr * 9* ^ n ^ *t came to pafr, when they were gone over, that Elijah f aid tint o Eli fl)a, ask^what IJhalldofor thes+ before 1 be taken from thee ? And Elifia Jaid, let I pray thee A double Portiontfthy Spirit- be upon me~\ They are much miftaken, who imagine he begg'd as much more of the Spirit, as Elijah had . For that had been very arrogant. He only deli red to have fuch a Portion of it, as the firft-born in a Family had of his Father^ - Eftate. That is, as much more of his Spirit, as any of the reft of the Sons of the Prophets : For the Por- tion of. the foft-born was -double to that of the reuV i f ft Second Boo% of KINGS: 3 ^ t of -the Children. In (hort, he did notdefire to excel Chapter' hlis Matter, but his School -fellows. See P. Fagjuf II. upon XXI. 'Dent. 17. Ver. 10. And he faid ^ thott haft askfda hard Such Gifts were rarely beftowed. Neverthelcft, if thou fee me when I am taken front t&e*, it fliattibe fo unto thee : But if not ^ It (hall not be fo.~] Mark this as a Sigi> whether thW (halt nave what thou defireft, or not. Ver. II. And it came to pafr, of they ftill went 0#, Verfe 1 1; *nd talked. 7 ] Of the happy State it is ifely, to which- Elijah was going. That befiM, there appeared a Chariot of Fire^ and ' Horfes of Fire , and parted them both afunder : And Eli" jah went *p by a Whirlwind into Heaven.] Angels ap-* peared before them, in the> Form of a bright Chariot r and Horfes, running towards them upon the ground : Which coming between them,' feparated them one from the other. For Elijah mounted the Chariot^ and in a great Guft of Wind, governed by Angels, wa*- tranfported into Heaven. That is, fakh Abarbinel^^ into the Air: For he being a Stranger to Chriftianity, . could not conceive how an Earthly Body could live- among the CcdelViaUnhabitants . And therefore, ac- cording to the grofs Imagi nations- of the Jews, ima* gines he is ftill upon the-Earth, in the Garden of; Eden. But thefe are ignorant Conceits. The plain? Senfe is, that his Body being transformed in^, was made immortal by-9piter-$ and ofr'Drjwpe Hamadryades : And Dacchv* affured Cz^w*^ that by- the help of Mars he ftiduld liare for ever in the Ifles s 34* A co MMEN TAR r Chapter of the BlefTed, whither they faid Alcumenewzs fnatcht IL up, by Mercury, at the Command ot Jupiter, Sec. See Dan. Huetitff in his Alnetan* >uctf tones, Lib. II. Cap. XII. N. XXX. Ver. 12. And Elifbafaw it, and ke cried, My Pa- thcr, My Father:] So they called their Matters and Inftrufters. The Chariot of Ifrael, and the Horfemen t hereof."] And he alludes to what he beheld. And very fitly com- pared Elijah to Chariot and Horfemen, which the If- raelites wanted in their Armies $ but he was inftead of them by his Couniels and Prayers.- Whereby they might have obtained great Victories, if they would have been obedient to his Word. And he fan him no more, and he took, hold of his own Clothes, and rent them in two piece* .] To exprefs his Sorrow for fo great a Lofs. Verfe 13. Ver- 13. And he took.up alfo the Man tie of Elijah that fell from him.~] This dropt from him, as he went up to Heaven : In token of the Spirit that mould be gi- ven to Elijlia, according to his Promife. And vent back^ and flood by the Banks of Jordan."] Whofe Waters were come together again, after he and Elijah got over. Verfe 14. Ver. 14. And he took the Mantle of Elijah that fell from htm, and faid, where it the LORD God of Eli- jah?~] That is, let him (how his Prefence with me, and his Power, as he did with Elijah. But we do not tranilate thefe laft words exactly, two words be- ing left out, vfai Aph-hn. Which the LXX. put in- to one, apptt of what I know not the Senfe. And the Chaldee tranflate it, receive nty Petition \ with- out any reafon: Thofe words carrying in them m - thing of that Signification. The be(t account. of them is that which I meet with in a (hort DifTertation by the Second Boofyf KINGS. 343 Job. Frijcbitintotff, de Orig.& Profapia Eli where they thought it likely he might be caft. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And when they came again to him (for he tarried at Jericho) he faid unto them, did not 1 fay tin- to you, Gonotf] By this he fetled his Authority, in that he foretold them their Labour would be loft. Verfe 19. Ver. 19. And the 'Men of the City faid unto Eli/Jja^ behold the Situation of this City it pleafant, as my Lord feeth, but the Water '-if naught, *nd the Ground barren.'] Things did not thrive in that Soil / But the People, and the Cattle mifcarried, and the Fruit fell off from the Trees $ as the Margin tranilates it. Which Curie, Abarbinel thinks, had been upon this place, ever fince the time ofjofhw. Verfe 2O. Ver. 20. And he faid, bring me a. newCritfe, and put Salt therein } and they brought it to hitn7\ He would have a new Crufe, that had never been ufed $ and brought by them, together with the Salt, that there might be no Sufpicion of Fraud (as Abarbinel obferves) nor the Venue afcribed to any thing that was in the Crufe before, but merely to the Power of God. Theyw alfo, in Mechilta fay, that his putting Salt into it, made this a Miracle in a Miracle: For it makes Water lefs potable, and Ground more barren. Vcrfc 11. Ver. 21. And he went forth unto the Spring of the Waters, and caft the Salt in there, and faid, 1 but faith the LO R D, / have healed thcfe Maters $ there fhall not be from hence any more death, or barren Land.'] He wrought the Miracle at Jordan, as the fore named Author obferves, for his own fake: That he might make an Experiment, whether the Divine Influence which was upon Elijah was derived unto him. But this tie Second Eoo\ of K I N G S. 345 this at Jericho he wrought for the fake of the Sons of Chapter the Prophets, who dwelt there : That they might II. know the hand of the LORD was with him. c*"v^> Ver. 22. So the Waters were healed unto thif day, ac- Vcrfc 22. cording to the faying of Elifloa, which hefpake~] By this the People of the City (who befought this Favour from him, v. 19.) faw that he was a Man of God, to whom they owed Obedience. Ver. 23. And he went up from thence to Bethel^] That Verfe 13. he might vifit the Sons of the Prophets who were in that City, and comfort them for the Lofs of Elijah .* By letting them fee the Spirit of God was upon him. It is very properly faid, he went up thither, becaufe it ftood upon an Hill 5 and there was an Afcent from Jericho thither (VIII. Jofi. 3, 17.) though Elijah and he, going another way, are faid to go down to Be- thtl> v. 2. And as he was going up by the way^ there came forth little Children out of the City."] This word Naarim fig- nifies grown Touth, as well as little Children. For Jfaac % when he was twenty eight Years old, is called Naar, XXII. Gen. 5. 12. And Jofeph, when he was thirty, XLI. 12. and Rehoboam, when he was forty, 2 Chron. XIII. 7. And this is to be underftood here, of adult Perfons : Who had a Hatred to the Pro- phet. And mocked him,"] By the Inftigation of their Pa* rents, or of Baal's Priefts (as they will have it, who take them for mere Children) who ftirred them up, and taught them to jeer at his baldi>ate, and fo laught at the Afcenfionof Elijah. And faid unto &/#*, Go up thott bald Head, Go up than bald Head.] Their Repetition of thefe words, exprefles their Earneftnefs and Vehemence in their Contempt of him. For as Hair was always accounted Y y a fin- A COMMENT 4 KY upon Chapter a fingular Ornament, fo Bald nefs was difgraceful. In- II. fomuch that C^yir, as Bochartvs hath obferved, could L/^V"\J not bear with thofe who jeered him upon this ac- count : And thought it the higheft Honour the Se- nate did him, in decreeing he fhould always appear with a Wreath of Laurel upon his Head. When they call upon Eli/ha, to go />, they flouted, tsAbar&inel thinks, at the Afcenfion of Elijah to Hea- ven 5 the News of which had been brought thither, and reported by the Prophets of that Place. Which the Idolaters laught at, and bad Eli/ha go up to Hea- ven alfov that they might not be troubled with him. Thus I find alfo the Author of the Queftions and An- fwers, adOrthodoxos, underftand thefe words : .Which were fpoken, TS& baav'tjubv TV 'HA& arctA^^;, to reproach the Afrumption otEtfjah: As if they had faid, faju,/3av{TSi> % 0* 7n/eS,u^t, Let the Spirit takf the? dlfo, and caft thee upon fome inacceflible Mountain , that we may be rid of thee, as we are of him, Re- fponf. LXXX. Verfe 24. Ver, 14. And he tifrned back^ and looked upon them, and curfed them in Ihe Name of the LORD.~] This Contempt of him, not as a Man merely, but as a Prophet, provoked the Anger of God . Who moved Elifha. to lay a Curfe upon them, and punifh them, as Mofes did Korah^ Dathan, and Alitam^ and St. Pe- ter did Anatfas, and Sappkfta. And there caws two She-bears out of the tyood.'] Who it is likely had been robbed of tneir Welps: Which matle tftem the more fierce, and outragious. And tare forty and two Children (ftterx.JThiS was dbhl? by an extraordinary Dfreftion oiFGod: Who moved the Bears at that Moment to' come out of the Wood, when Ehjha pronoanced tHe Carf4 of K I N G S. 34; havock among them, when two or three would Chapter have fatisfied their Hunger. II. Ver. 25. And he went from thence to Mount Car nt el. ~] L/V"VJ Where it is probable he had many Difciples : Among V er ^ e 2 5- whom he intended to be a while retired. And front thence he returned toSamaria.~] To tefti- fy againft their Idolatry. And, it is highly probable, there was a Colledge of Prophets even inSawaria, as there was in Bethel, aiid Jericho $ whom he went to incourage. CHAP. III. Chapter III. Verfe i-l^T^^ Jehoram the Son of Ahal began ieVerte i. L^l reign over Jfrael in Samaria } the eigh- teenth Tear of J.ehofiaphat King of Judab, and reigned twelve Tears'] Ahaziah his Brother reigned two Years, and began his Reign in the feyenteenth Year of Jeho- foaphat (i Kings K\\l. 51.) That is, part of the fe- venteenth Year, and part of the eighteenth, which was accounted for two Years. In the later end of which Jehoram his Brother began to reign: When Je- horam, the Son of 'jehofiapkat^ had, two Years reigned with his Father. See I. 17. Ver. 2. And he wrought evil in the fight of the LORD, Verfe 2, but not like hif Father, and like his Mother : For he put away the Image of Baal which kit Fattier had macte.~] He did not break it in pieces, as he would have done if he had heartily hated it, but only put ic away out of the Temple ; being afraid, left the Judgments . of God, (hould,fall upon him, as they had done upon his Father. And the King of Moub being now in P^e- Y y 2 bellion 348 ^ COMMENTARY upon Chapter bellion againft him, Jehofhapbat perhaps refufed to HI. help him, whilft he was a WoruYipper of Baal. It t/*V%J is much that his Mother, who had brought this Wor- (hip with her from the Zidonians, fhould fuffer him to remove this Image : But (he was a little daunted perhaps, at the many Difafters, which had befallen their Family . And was contented with wormipping Baal in private. Verfe 5. Ver. 3. Neverthelcfs he cleaved unto the fins of Jero- boam the Son of Nelat, who made Ifrael to fin : lie de- parted not therefrom?] It was eafier to remove the I- mage of Baal, than to put away the Calves : For that was new, but the other had been of long (landing $ and the mo ft likely Courfe they could think of, to maintain the Divifion of the two Kingdoms. Verfe 4. Ver. 4. And Mefl)a King of Moab was a Sheep-Ma- fter."] The Riches not only of private Men, but alfo of Kings, in ancient time confided much in Sheep, and Cattle : Which I have obferved before they lookt after themfelves.- And their Sons kept their Sheep, as Bochartus (hows in his Hierozoicon^ P. I. Lib. II. Cap. XLIV. And thus the greateft part of the World lived, during the fpace of near four Thoufand Years. Which did not hinder them from being, at the fame time, a brave and War-like People as appears by the Ancient Romans, who were thus bred ; and fubdued 11 Italy, and at laft made themfelves Mafters of the World. For this fort of Life was the caufe of their great Strength, making their Bodies robuft, and hardned to Labour, and accuftomed to a fevere Difcipline. There cannot be a greater Inftance of this, than we have in Cato the Cenfor : Who pafled through all the great Offices of the Republick of Rome^ had governed Provinces, commanded Armies, was a great Orator, Lawyer, and Politician : Who did not the Second Bool^ ofKlNGS. 349 not difdain to write a Treatife concerning all the Chapter ways that are neceflary for the improving Lands, III. and how Stables and Houfes were to be built for fe- veral fort of Cattle, and how Prefies were to be made for Wine and Oyl, &c. Infomuch that any one may fee he was perfe&ly acquainted with Country Bufinefs, and that he did not write for Oftentation, but for life and the Service of Mankind. And rendered to the King of Jfrael an hundred thoti- fund Lambs, and an hundred thoufand Rams, with the Wool7\ This was a prodigious Number, and being ren- dred unlborn, made them more valuable. But we are to eonfider that thefe Countries abounded with Sheep $ infomuch that Solomon offered an hundred and twen- ty thoufand at the Dedication of the Temple, 2 Chron.. VII. 5. and the Reubenites drove from the Hagaren* an hundred and fifty thoufand, i Chro. V. 7. For they frequently brought forth two at a time, and fometime twice a Year, as that great Man Bocharttft (hows in the fame Book, Cap. XLVI; and produces a famous Place in Plity, which (hows that this was the moft ancient Tribute. For he faith in- the Cenforian, Tables, all the Rents of the People are called P* ftttres^ qniaditihoc folumvertigalftierat, Lib. XVI IL Nat. Hift. Cap. 5. But Ludolphtt* hath obferved two things for the illuftrating this^ Hiftory of the King of Moab, which feem to be very confiderable. Firjk, That this was not Annual Tribute, but Satisfaction for Damages which the Ifraelites had fuftained in^ the War with them, or by their Revok from them, as- the LXX. underftand it. And then the watA'Ajil', ftiould not be tranflated a Ram, but ^Weather: For one Ram will ferve a great many Sheep, Lib. V* men*. mHio^ Jthfap.Cz& III. N, 30, -350 A COMMENT ART npon Chapter Ver. 5. And it c we to pafs, when Abab was dead, III. th# the King of Moajt rebelled agaiirft the King of If- /7VV! rael~] As was laid before. Chap. I. i. and here again Verfe 5. repeated orriy to imroduc*the following Hiftory. Verfe 6. Ver. 6. And King Jehorawwent out of Saw aria, the fame lime, and nuwbred all JfraeL] As foon as he was feded in his Kingdom, his firft Bufinefs was to raife an Army to reduce Moth to Obedience. Verfe 7. Ver. 7. And he went.'} After his Army was raifed, he went out ot Sawaria. Andfenttojehoftaphatthe King of Judah, faying, the King of Moab hath rebelled againji me, wilt thou go with rue againft Moab to Battle : And be f aid, I will go ttj> : I apt as.thoH art, my People as thy People, and my nor- fes as thy Horfes.~] He returned the very fame Anfwer to him which he had given to Abab his Father, when l^e defired his Aflirtance againft Syria, i Kings XXII. 4. wherein he had been ib uwfuccefsful, that it (hould have made him more cautious how he joyned with his Son : Eipecially fince he fcemed to have been afraid to have to do with his Brother Ahaziah, i X/V/g.XXH. 49. But Jehorant having reformed fome things (v. 2.) it made him perhaps, have a better Opinion of him, and by (bowing Kindnefs to him, he might hope to perfwade him to proceed further. And befides, the Moabites had lately invaded his Country, 2 Chron.\X. 1. 10. which might move him, to embrace an Op- portunity to chaftife them for it. Verfe 8. ^ er - & And he f aid, which way Jjj all we go up . bites : Where they did not expeft them. And there w vant, and mYniftred unto him. Ver. 12. And Jehojhaphatfaid, the Word of the LORD Verffr is with hit.~] For no doubt he had been informed how Elijah had chofen him to be his Succefibr - y and how bit A CO MM EN TART *pm Chapter attended him till he was taken up to Heaven $ and "ill. what Wonders he had already done. (^\^\j So the King oflfrael, and Jehoftaphat, and the King of Edom went down to hi/?*] It is uncertain whither they went. But it is very obfervable, Pirft, how much they honoured the Prophet, for whom they did not fend to come to them : But went to him. And Se- condly , how defirous the Prophet was to do good, in that he followed the Camp into this Wildernefs. For it is not likely they went back to Samaria to wait on him (where the Story laft left him, in the laft Verfe of the foregoing Chapter) which would have been a feven Days Journey $ and the Army might in the mean time have been loft. Befides, v. 16. (bows he was not far from them .- And the Servant in the foregoing Verfe fpeaks of them as prefent j faying, Here if Elifha. Verfe 13. Vcr. 13. And Eli/ha f*id unto the King of Ifraet, what have I to do with thee? Get thee to the Prophets of thy Father, and to the Prophets of thy Mother."] He re- fufes with great Difdain to entertain any Difcourfe with him .- And bids him confer with thole, who he knew could do him no Service. AndtheKingoflfraelfaid, Nay."] That is, I will not confult them : But do thou give us Counfel how we may be brought out of this great Diftrefs, For the LORD hath called theje three Kings together , to deliver them into the hand ofMoab."] Though he re- fufed to do any thing for his fake $ yet he oefeeches him to have refpeft to the other two Kings, who muft perifii as well as he, if he did not help them. Verfe 14; Ver. 14. And Elijha faid^ as the LORD of Hofts liveth, before whom Iftand.~] It is obfervable, that the Sons of the Prophets are faid to fit before their Ma- tters, the Prophets, when they inftruftcd them (IV. 3, 9. the Second Bjol^ BRINGS. 353 3, 8. and fee the foregoing Chapter, v. 3.) but the Chapter Prophets themfelves flood before the LORD, their III. Matter, when he fent them upon any Meffage. See ^^^^^ Corn. Bertram, de Rep. Jud.zp. XVI. Sitrely, were it not that I regard the prefence of Jeho- foaphat the King ofjttdahy I would notlook^towardsthee, nor fee thee.'] He taith nothing f the King of Edom who was a dependant upon Jehefiaphat : Whofe Pie- ty heefteemed, and had- fome refpeft to all that be- longed to him. Ver. 15. But now bring me a Mixftrel.'] One that Verfe 15. could play well upon an Inftrument of Mufick. " And it came to pafs, when the Minftrel played^ that the hand of the LORD came upon him.~] fcvery one knows that fome fort of Mufick wonderfully quiets and compofes the Spirits, when they are difordered ^ and raifes them when they are flat and heavy. And therefore holy Men did not negleft fuch helps to make them fo fedate and chearful, that they might be fit to receive Divine Infpirations. But it is likely he that played now to Eli/ha fung withal fome Hymn in the Praifes of God, and of his wonderful Works, Whereby the Spirit of the Prophet was fweetly com- pofed, which had been difturbed, perhaps more than was fit, by his Indignation at the King of Ifrael. And from hence we may conclude there were excellent Muficians in Ifrael^ as well as in Judah^ where David had fetled Divine Mufick in great perfection. And it is very probable, what the Heathen boaft of their Mttfes, was from hence derived. Then the Hand of the LORD came upon htm^} That is, God wrought in him : And he felt himfelf moved by a Divine Infpiration. Zz Ver. 1 6. 354 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Ver. 16. And he fad, Thus faith the LORD, make HI. this valley full of ditches^] This (hows they were in a L/'VNJ P^ce where the Army was encamped in a valley, -In Verfe 1 6. which he. ordered them' to be fet at work, to dig large ditches, to hold water enough for them all. Vcrfe 17. Ver. 17. For thus faith the LORD, ye flail not fee Wind, neither fiall ye fee Rain$ yet that Valley fh all be filed with Water that ye may tiring loth ye, and your Cattle, andyonr Beafts. 1 } The words belonging to one of our Senfes are frequently apply ed to another. As to fee Wind is to feel it, or hear it. And the mean- ing is, there (hould no Wind ftir to blow up Clouds (as the South-wind commonly did) nor ftiould they fee any Rain fall : And yet they (hould have plenty of Water in that Valley > for themfelves, and all be- longing to them. I fuppofe it fell upon the Mountains at a diftance from them, and came pouring down into the lower ground. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And this if but a. light thing in the fight of the LORD : He will deliver the Motbites into your , hand."] Of which, I fuppofe, they had no Hope, be- ing much difpirited for want of Water. Verfe 19. Ver. 19. And ye fhall ftttite every fenced City i and every choice City, and {hall fell every good Tree, and ft op . wp all the Wells of Water, and mar every good pitfe of Land with Stones."] Prophets were to be obeyed, when they commanded things contrary to a pofitive Pre- cept, as fome part of this was, fee XX. Dent. 19. Which they had Power to difpenfc withal for a time, though not always, fo as to annul the Precept, As Mainfonides expounds this Matter in his Preface, to Seder Zerarw. But fome think this ufage fo fevere, that they take the Prophets meaning to be no more than this $ that God would give them fuch an iotire Victory, that they might be able to do all this, if they i f i pleated.* pleafed : And the Moabites were fo ill Neighbours, Chapter that it is very likely they did this Execution upon III. them, v. 25. L/*V*XJ Ver. 20. And it came to pafs in the Morning^ n^e* Verfe 20. the Meat-offering was offered.'] When the People of God were praying at Jerufalem, at the time of the Morning Sacrifice. Etiflja joyned his Prayers with them for this Bleffing. That behold^ there came Water by the way of Edom 9 and the Country was piled with Water."] Whether it came from a fudden Collection of a vaft Number of Clouds, which poured down Rain in abundance in the Land of Edom 5 or from fome Rocks which God caufed to gu(h out Water 5 it came by a miraculous Power, when there was no Natural Caufe to pro- duce it. Ver. 21. And when all the Moabites heard that f^e Verfe 21. Kings were come up to fight againft them, they gathered att that were able to put on Armour ^ and upward, and flood in the Border. ~\ Intending to defend themfelves \ but not to march out of thtir Country, to give the Enemy Battle. Ver. 12. And theyrofe up early in the Morning^ The Verfe X2. next Morning, I fuppofe, after the Water filled the Valley. And the Sun {hone upon the Water 9 and the Moabites faw the Water on the other fide , as red as Blood."] On the Eaft-fide of their Country. Ver. 23. And theyfaid this if Blood 5 the Kings are Verfe 23. furely Jlain^ and they have fmitten one another j Now therefore Moab to the fpoil.~] They knew there was no Water there, a few days before, and that there had been no Rain $ and therefore (the Sun (hining di- rectly in their Eyes, which made it look red) they concluded it could be nothing elfe but Blood. And Z z 2 what A COMME NT ART upon Chapter what Blood could it be, but that of the three Rings III. Army, who had fallen out by reafon, perhaps, of L^W* their different Religion : Or vexed at the ftraits they had brought one another into > And the Moabites ea- fily believing what they wifht, imagined they had nothing to do, but to go and gather Spoil, and not to fight at all. Verfe 24. Ver. 24. And when they came to the Camp oflfrael, the Israelites rofe tip andfaote the Moabites^ fo that they fled before thent.~] They intirely routed and difperfed them. But they went forward, fatting the Moabites, even in their Country^] But they did not content themfelves with this Victory } but purfued them fo clofe that they got into their Country with them, and there made a greater havock of them. Verfe 25. Ver. 25. And they beat down the Cities , an<\ on eve- ry good piece of Land caft every Man hx Stone, and fi- led it } and they flopped all the Wells of Water } and felled all the good TreesJ] According to the Permifiion given them by the Prophet (v. 19.) intending, I fuppofe, to depopulate the whole Country. Only in Kir-harofheth left they the Stones thereof^} They left no Walls ftanding, but only thefe of the Royal City.- Which was exceeding ftrong. See XVI. Ifaiah 7. 11. Howbeit the Slingers went about ;f, and faote it."] They rarfed fuch Batteries againft it, that they drove them who defended it from the Wall : And made great Breaches in it. Verfe 26. Ver. ^6. And when the King of Moabfaw the Battle was too fore for him7\ That he was not able to defend the place any longer. He the Second Bool^ BRINGS. 357 He took, with him feven hundred Men that drewfaord. Chapter to break, through even to the King of Edom, but they III. could not.~] He made a fally with feven hundred ftout*-^^"*^ Men, upon the Quarters of the King of Edom (which it feems were the weakeft) hoping to break through them, and efcape. But they were repulfed, and for- ced to retreat. Ver. 2 7. 7 hen he tool^ his eldeft Son that flmdd have Verfe ^ 7. reigned in hit ftead^ and offered him for a Burnt-offer- ing upon theWalt.~\ Hereupon the King of Moab took his eldeft Son and made him a Sacrifice before them all, as the laft defparate Remedy $ Hoping hereby to obtain powerful Help from his God, through fo precious a Sacrifice of the deareft thing he had unto him. For it is well known, not only by the Holy Scriptures, but Heathen Writers, that in great Diftrefs they were wont to offertheir own Children upon their Altars. Eufebiuf Lib. V. Prjpar. Evangel, and Laflatt- titffj Lib. I. Div. Inftit. Cap. XXI. mention feveral Nations who ufed thefe Sacrifices. And Cdfar Lib. VI. de Bello Gallico, faith of the Gauls, that svhen they were afflifted with grievous Difeafes, or in time of War, or great Danger, they either offered Men for So.- crifices, or vowed they would offer them. For they ima- gined God would not be appealed, Nifi pro vita ho- minis reddatur vita hominis, unlefs the Life of a Man was rendered for the Lire of a Man. Abarbinel indeed thinks that he offered the eldeft Son of the King of &0*, whom he took Prifoner in the late Sally. But it could not be faid of him, that this Son was to reign in his (read : For the King of Jndah made whom he pleafed his Deputy over Edom. And this would not have made the three Kings with- ; V draw the Siege $ but profecute it with greater Fury. And Abarbinel acknowledges, that their wife Men in Pe/tya 358 A COM MENTOR!' *p>n Chapter Pe/tfya and the Sanhedrin under ftand it as I do : And III. that Tome of them think he offered him in Imitation of Abraham, to the God of Jfrael } hoping to move him to be favourable to him. Which nolefs Man than Grotfat follows. And indeed it is highly probable, that this Cuftorn of offering humane Sacrifices fprung from the offering of Ifaac, from whence the Moabites who were Neighbours to Canaan, learnt it. And there was great Indignation againft Jfrael."] Or, as it may be tranflated, great Repentance upon (or /, or among) Ifrael. That is, they were extream forry and troubled at this barbarous Sacrifice , and wi(ht they had not pu(hed on the War fo far .* Which end- ed in fuch an horrid A&ion, which brought an Odi- um upon them. And they departed from him, and returned to their own Land.~\ Hereupon they raifed the Siege, by com- mon Gonfent, and returned home : For fear any fuch thing fhould be done again. CHAP. IV. Vcrfc I. Vcrfe i.^^iOW there cried a cert ainWoman of theWives JLN of the Sons of the Prophets untoElifta,fay- **k\ I* ' s bferved by St. Hierom, that Elijah and Eli- Jba had no Wives, Et Virgines multi Filii Prophetarttm, and many of the Sons of the Prophets were Virgins : But it is plain by this place that they were not all fo > but had liberty to marry, if they pleafed. My Husband if dead, and thott knw$ th** thy Ser- vant did fear the LORD."} Was a Worlhipper of the true God, and not of Baal nor the Calves : Which was the Second BooJ^ of KIN G S. was the reafon ic is Irkely of his Poverty $ fuch Men Chapter being difcountenanced among the idolatrous Ifra- IV. elites. C/WJ, And, the Creditor is come to take unto him my two Softs, to be his Bandftnen."] Becaufe (he was not able to pay his Debts : In which cafe the Hebrews had fuch a Power over their Children, that they might fell them (being lookt upon as their Goods) to pay what they owed : And the Creditor might force them to it. And Huetius thinks that from the Jews this Cuftom was propagated to the Athenians $ and from them to the Romans. The Hebrew Doctors have a fancy, that e this Prophet was Oladiah (mentioned i Kings XVIII. 3.} and that the Creditor was Jehoram the Son of Ahab. Which is utterly ungrounded. Ver. 2. And Eli/ha faid unto her, what JhaU J do forV^fe 3i2 thee > Tell me, what haft thou in the Houfe ?] Toward the Difcharge of thy Husband's Debt. And {he (aid, Thine Handmaid hath not any thing in the Houfe, fave A Pot of Ojl."] Which was a thing of great life $ both in the Service of God, and of Men. Ver. 9. And he f aid, go borrow thee Veffels abroad. ofVttfe -^ all thy Neighbours i even empty Pejjels : Borrow not a few."] As many as ibe could get, and not fmall Veffels. Ver. 4. And when *tho* art come in, tho* {halt fbutV&k 4, the Door upon thee, and upon thy SonsJ] That none might come in to difturb her in what (he was about. And fiatt pour out."] Of the Pot of Oyl which fite had. Into- alljhofe Veffelt,, andr thou /halt fet apdel that .:; which is full.'] And call for another that was empty* Chapter Ver. $. So foe vent from him and (hut the Door upon IV. her, and upon her Sons, who brought the Veffels to her, L/"W> and foe pouredout.'] Believing (he mould by this means Verfe $. be relieved. Verfe 6. Ver. 6. And it came to pafi, when the Veffds were full, that foe faid unto htr Son,'] Who brought her the empty Veflels : For the other Son was employed in fetting afide thofe that were full. Bring me yet a Veffd.~\ For (he was confident the Pot of Oyl would (till afford more. And hefaid unto her, there is not A Veffel more 5 and the Oyl flayed^] When there was no Veffel to receive it. Verfe 7 Ver. 7. Then foe came, and told the Man of God : And hefaid, go fell the Oyl, and pay thy Debt $ and live thou and thy Children upon the reft.] We muft firft do Juftice: And then expeft God's Bleiling up- on the Provifion we make for our ielves and our Fa- mily. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And it fell out on a day, that Elifta pajfid te Shuneyt.'} A City in the Tribe of Ijjachar, XIX. Jofo. 1 8. Where was A great Woman] Who had a great Eftate, and it is likely kept a great Houfe. And foe conflrained him to eat Bread."] Was very im- portunate with him to take a repaft at her Houfe, and prevailed with him to accept of her Kindnefs. And Jo it was, that as oft as he pajfed by, he turned in thither to eat Bread.~] She made him io welcome, that he made no fcruple, when he had occafion to go that way, to ftep in there and refrem himfelf . Which it is likely flie invited him to do. Verfe 9. Ver. 9. And fljefaid unto her Husband, behold now, 1 perceive."] By her frequent Converfation with him. That tie Second Bool^ of, K t N G S. That this if an holy Man of God."] Not only a Pro- Chapter phet:, but a Perfon of great Sandity. IV. Which pajfith by tfs continually^ For Shunem was in vx~vvy his way as he went from Carmd (which was not far from hence) to Bethel and Jericho, and other Places of the Sons of the Prophets. Ver. 10. Let ttf make a little Chamber, I pray thee, Verfe IG on the Wall."] A private Room, remote from the Houfe : Where he might retires and without Noife or Difturbance give himfelf to Prayer, and Medita- tion, and follow his facred Studies.- And let us fet up for him there a Bed, and a Table, and a Stool, and a Candleftick-'} Furnifh it with all things neceflary for a fingle Perfon, And it ft all be that when he comet h, he fhall turn in. thither.] Take Hp his Lodging there, if he think good. Ver. II. And it fell on a day that he came thither^ Verfe if, and he turned into the Chamber, and lay there.~] And it appears by the Story, that he became their conftant Geeft. Ver. 12. And he fold to Gehazi fas S&vantj Call this Verfe I L. Slunamite.' And when he had called. her, fie ftood be- fore him.~\ Waiting to know what -he wanted. But he having been fo kindly entertained by her for fome time, fent for her to give her thanks, and to defire to know what he (hould do for her. Ver. 13. And he faid nnto htm, fay now ttftto ker.~] He feems to me to have whifpejred torGehazi, to ask her the following Queftion. Whereupon (he with- drew, thinking he had fome Bufinefs with him, be- fore he could fpeak with her. Beheld thott haft keen careful for w, with all thfr Care."] Been exceeding kind to us, in taking care we {hould want nothing. Aaa Wh*t 3 6*2 A COMMENT A KY npon Chapter What if to be done for thee.~] That is, wherein can I IV, ferve thee ? For he was very defirous, as all good L/*V^SJ Men are, to be grateful. Wouldfl thoH be fyoken for to the King . and if any Man fa- 4ute thee> anfieer him not again.] Left they mould en- ter into Diicourfe, and ftop his Speed. And lay my Staff ttpou the Face of the Child."] He thought it might work a Miracle, as Mofes his R.od, and Elijah's Mantle did: And if the Woman had had the Second Bool^of K INGS, had a Faith ftrong enough, it might have been fuffi- Chapter cient. But (he diftrufted it 5 and would have Elifba IV. go himfelf. Abarbinel thinks he had no thoughts of U^WI reviving thi Child by this means, but only ordered his Staff to be laid upon it, to preferve him from Pu- trefa&ion. Which is a low Conceit. Ver. 30. And the Mother of the Child f aid, As the Verfe 30. LORD livetk, and a* thy Soul liveth, I will not leave thee.~] This feems to me to fignify, that (he did not confide in what he ordered Gehazi to do : But thought his Prefence necefTary to touch the Child, and pray to God to reftore him. Attdhearofe, and followed her. ~] Being overcome by her Importunity 5 and his own Kindnefs to fo great a Friend. V^er. 3 1 . And Gehaz,i pa/fid on before them, and laid Verfe 31* the Staff upon the Face of the Child 3 but there was nei- ther Voice nor Hearing^ No fign of Life appeared, as Gehazi^ I fuppofe, expected. Wherefore he went again- to meet him, and told him, facing, the Child is not awaked.~] He fpeaks of Death, as a Sleep. In whichhe continued, notwithftanding- he had done as Eltfha commanded. And it is likely that Power was witheld, which might have accom- panied the Staff 5 beeaufe the Prophet changed the Method of his proceeding in working this Miracle ;-r When the Woman would have him; go himfelf, and did not pray to God, that upon the laying on of the Staff he might revive. Ver. 32. And when Elijha came into the Hottfe^ e'Vtrfe hold, the Child was dead, and laid upon his Bed."} Where his Mother had left him, when (he went to 3 68 A C P M M N I J K T *g>m Chapter Ver. 33. He went in therefore, and flmt the Door IV. upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.] He (hut L/"VXv the Door that he might not be difturbed by any Bo- Verfe 33. dy, in his Prayer to God. Verfe 34. Ver. 34. And he went up.~] Upon the Bed. And lay upon the Child, and put his Mouth upon his Mouthy and his Eyes upon his Eyes , and his Hands upon his Hands, and he ftr 'etched himfelf upon the Child.'] This could not be done altogether, becaufe his Face and Body was much larger than the Child's : But fuc- ceffively, he laid his Mouth upon the Child's Mouth, and his Eyes and Hands upon the Child's Eyes and Hands : As ///' had done in the like cafe, in token that God infpired his Soul again into him, at his ear- neft Prayer. And the Flefh of the Child waxed warm.] Not from the external Heat of EtiJIjas Body 5 But from an in- ward Principle of Life, which was reftored, and be- gan to move in him. Verfe 35. Ver. %$. And he returned.] From the Bed. And walked in the Houfe to and fro .~] Took a turn or two in the Houfe to rerrefh himfelf, after the pains he had taken in Prayer, and other ways for the Child's Recovery. And went up and ftr etched himfelf upon him.'] As he had done before. For this Miracle was not wrought in an inftant, but gradually 5 By continued vehement Prayer to Qod. And the Child neefedfwen times.] A figri of Health, whereby his Head was purged, In which his pain lay, v. 19'. And the Child opened his j>e/.] After his neefing, he lookt upon Eljflxt? and it is likely fpake to him. Ver. 36. the Second Boo\ of KINGS. 369 Ver. 36. And he called Gehaz^i, and faid, call t/.tf Chapter Shunamite, fo he calk A her : And when fie wot come in \ V. unto him^ he J aid, Take up thy Son."} She came only to L/"V"V> the Door of the Room, till he bad her take up herVerfe 36. Son, and then (became in, as it follows. Ver. 37. Then {he vent in and fell at his Feet, and Vc rfe 37. bowed her felf down to the ground.~] Giving thanks to God, and to him, with a moft profound Reve- rence. And took, up her Son, and went out.'] Publiming, no doubt, this wonderful Work of God to all her Family : Who made it known abroad. Ver. 38. And Eiijha went again to Gilgal~] Where he Verfe 38. was with Elijah, a little before he was taken up into Heaven, II. i. For thofe places, wherein he had been with his Matter he loved to vifit: That he might work Wonders there, and confirm them in a Belief that he was a Prophet. And there was a Dearth in the Land."] A great Scar- city of Provifions. And the Sons of the Prophets were fitting before h'int^\ Which was the Pofture of Difciples when their Ma- fters taught them, who fat above, and their Scholars below, as I obferved, II. 3. and fee XXII. A&s 3. whence Bertram obferves their Schools and Academies, were called Jfljiboth^ that is, Setfions. / m j And he faid unto hit Servant, fet on the great Pot, andfeeth Pottage for the Sons of the ProphetsI} This ^ O ws that they lived together in Society, and after ^eir Le&ures were wont to eat together with their M after. Who ordered his Servant to prepare Come F ood for them.- Which was very plain and common, fuchasthe Gardens, or Fields would afford 5 with- out much Labour, and of fmall Price. Bbb Ver. 39. 37 o A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Ver. 3 9. And one went into the Field to gather Herbs.'] ' They went into the Fields, I fuppofe, to gather what green things they could find $ becaufe there were no 39. Pot-herbs in their Garden at home, by reafon of the Drought. And found A wild Vine, and gathered thereof mid Gourds his Lapful.~\ This is thought to have been Cola- quintida, which hath a Leaf fomething like that of a Vine, and purges vehemently. And came and/bred them into the Pot of Pottage $ for they knew them not."] Neither he that gathered them, nor they that fhred them knew what they were : But took them to be the Leaves of a wild Vine. Verfe 40. Ver. 40. Sotheppoured out for the Men to eat, and it came to pafs, as they were eating of the Pottage, that they cried out andfaid, thou Man of God, there if Death in the Pot : And they could not eat thereof.] It was fo bitter and diftateful, that they concluded there was fome venemous Herb in the Pot. Perhaps they might know it by the Tafte to be what it was.- An Herb that purges extreamly, and is Poyfon, if not quali- fied and taken in a moderate Quaatity. Verfe 41. Ver. 4 1 ' B*t he f aid, then bring Meal, and he caft 'it into the Pot$ and he faid, pour out for the People that the? way tat : And there was n* harm in the Pot."] Which Alteration was not from any Vertue in the Meal, but from the Power of God. Therefore the Jews juftly reckon this as the eighth Miracle which EliOia wrought, after he was made a Prophet. 42. Ver. 42. And there came a. Man from Baal-Shalifia, *nd brought the Man of God Bread efthe Fir 'ft- fruits.'] This was a feafonable Prefent, it being a time of Dearth, when Bread was very fcarce. And it being called Biccwrim (which was the Name for the Firft- belonging to the Priefts) it is likely this wrs the Second Book, of KINGS. 371 not fuch a Prefent as Men were wont to make, when Chapter they came to ask a Prophet any Queftion, and to be IV. refolved of their Doubts (like that i Kings XIV. 3.) but a Free-will Offering for the better Subiiftence of the Prophet. Unto whom, it is probable, pious People gave that Portion, which was afiigned by God for the Priefts, to whom they could not now carry their Firft-fruits, they being in the Land of Judah. And I fuppofe the Schools of the Prophets might be partly maintained by this means. Twenty Loaves of Barley."] Which were not very large : For then it would not have been a Miracle, that they fufficed for an hundred Men. And full ears of Corn, in the Hw^ thereof.'] Which being parched they were wont to eat. See II. Ruth 15. But Dr. Hammond approves rather of our Marginal Tranflation, and thinks thefe words mould be ren- dred, they brought Ears of Corn, in a Satchel, or Scrip. See X. S. Matthew, Annot. e. And he f aid, give unto the People , that they may eat."] That is, to the Sons of the Prophets, with whom he then was, when this Prefent was brought to him. Ver. 43. Andhif Servitor faid, what (hall I fet thif Verfc before an hundred Men /] Juft as the Apofties faid un- to our Bleffed Saviour, when he intended to feed a far greater Multitude, with lefs Food. By this it ap- pears there were a great many Scholars, who lived in this Community : And that they ufed a frugal PDiet. And he faid again, give the People, that they .may eat.~] That is, do . as I bid you, and make no Ob- jections. For tb*t faith the LORD, they Jhall eat, and fiall leave thereof?] As the Multitude left of the Loaves our Saviour caufed to be fet before them, VI. John 1 1. B b b 2 Ver. A COMMENT A KY upon j. Chapter Ver. 44. So hefet before then, and they did eat, and IV. left thereof, according to the Word of the LORD.] L/VNJ Something like this was done by his Mafter Elijah, Verie 44. for the Woman of Sarepta, in a time of Famine: Whofe Barrel of Meal and Crufe of Oyl wafted not for many Days, till God fent Rain upon the Earth, i Kings XVlI. 14, 1 6. CHAP. V. Vcrfe I. Verfe i-^JCW Naaman, Captain of the Hoft of the L\ King of Syria.'] Commander in chief of his whole Army, whom we call General. Was a treat Man with his Mafter.~\ In great favour with him And honourable^ In high Efteem with all the People. Becaufe by him the. LORD had given Deliverance unto Syria?] tie had been victorious in filch Battles as he had fought: Which this Divine Writer would have the Ifraelites look upon as the LOR D's do- ing. He was alfo a mighty Man { of Valour. ~] .Being the Per- fon (as the Jews fay in Midrafch Tehillitn) who drew the Bow at Adventure and killed AhaL i Kinet XXII. 34. But be was a Leper. ~] Which did not exclude him from the Society of Men, in that Country $ where the Jewifh Law was not in Force. But it was a great Blemifh to him, and alfo like to prove deadly: There being no Cure for this Difeafe, 'which was very common in Stria, as I have elfewhere noted. Ver. 2 the Second Boo^of KINGS. 373 Ver. 2. And the Syrians had gone out by Companies.'] Chapter This word which we tranflate Company , doth not fig- V. nify an Array.- But fuch Troops (or Parties as we i^W call them) as made Excurfions, and Inrodes into the Vcrfe 2. Enemies Country to get Booty. And had brought away captive out of the Land of If" rael, a little young Maid.~] Young Men and Maids were a deferable part of the Prey, which they got : Whom they fold for Money, or employed them in their own Service. And /he waited on Naamans Wife."] Either (he was his part of the Spoil in that Expedition $ or they made a Prefent of her to him (being beautiful per- haps, and ingenious) or he bought her of the Sol- diers. Ver. 3. Anelfiefaid unto her Miftreff, would GoetwjVttk 3. Lord was with the Prophet that is Jn Samaria."] The Hi- ftory left him laft at Gilgal : But he ufed to be in f- vcral other places 3 and when (he was taken Captive, was at Samaria. For he would recover hint of his Leprofy.] She related, it is likely, the wonderful things which he had done: And therefore was confident he could work thi* Cure. Ver. 4. And one went in+ and told his Lord, thus Verfe 4. and thus faid the Maid, that if of the Land of Ifrael."] Her words being related to Naantan, he went and told the King his Mafter what (he had (aid ^ and begg'd his Leave to go to the Prophet in the Land of Jfrael. The following words warrant this Senfe. Ver. $. AnAthe King of Syria faid, goto, go t and /Verfe 5. will fend a Letter to the King of Jfrael : And he departed^ and took, with him ten Talents of Silver, and fix thott- fand pieces of Gold, and ten changes of Raiment.'] That he A COM MENT4R T upon Chapter he might honourably reward the Prophet, and thofe V. that attended him. V^v^W Ver. 6. And he brought the Letter to the King of If. Verfe 6. rael, facing, Now when thif Letter if come unto thee, behold, I have therewith fent my Servant to thee, that thoti mayft cure him of his Leprojy^ The beginning of the latter is omitted, as not pertinent to the Matter in hand. It is likely it contained the ufual Comple- ments : After which he defired him, together with this Letter, to receive his Servant Naaman t and to cure him of his Leprofy : That is, to take care he might be cured by the Prophet. But this not being plainly cxprefled, the Ring of Ifrael apprehended that the Intention of this Demand was only to pick a Quarrel with him, and feek an occafion, or rather a pretence for a War with him. Vtrfe 7. Ver. 7. And it cam e t o pafs, when the King of Ifrael had read the Letter, that he rent his Clothe s^ andfaid. Am I God^ to kill and to make alive .?] He rent his Clothes either as one in great Affliction, and Trouble $ or (as fome will have it) becaufe he lookt upon it as Blafphemy } to afcribe that Power to him, which be- longed to God alone. For none but he could cure a Leprofy : Which he exprefles by killing and making alive. Every Body, even Beafts can kill, but when one is killed to make him alive again (thus thefe words muft be underftood in Conjunction) is the Work only of the Almighty. That thif Man doth fend unto me, to recover a. Man efhfc Leprofy. ~] To cure this Diteafe was as hard, as to raife a dead Man to Life: For the Skin was dead, and the Leprofy fretted and eat into the FJefh. Wherefore c onfder I prayyoH, and fee how he feekfth M Quarrel againft me."} Though he had fecn what Mi- racks Eli/ha had wrought 5 yet he either had forgot them the Second Boo\ of KINGS; them 5 or thought this beyond his Power $ or, was Chapter loth to fee ftill more Demon ftrations of his Power V. with God . And fo did not fend to him upon this ^xv^ Occafion. Ver. 8. And it was fo, when Elijha, the Man ofGodV&k 8* heard that the King of Ifrael had rent his Clothes, he fent to the King, faying, wherefore haft thott rent thy Clothes $ Let him come now to me, and he fljall knot* that there if a Prophet in Ifrael.'] As the word Prophet commonly fignifies a Man that declares things which none could know but God, who reveals them by his Spirit : So here it fignifies a Man endued with a Di- vine Power, who could do that which no Man could eflfeft, unlefs God was with him. Ver. 9. So Naaman came with his Horfes and ha- Vcrfc a. riots, a.nd ftood at the door of the Bottfe ofElifha.'] Ex- pecting, I fuppofe, that the Prophet would come out to him : Or rather out of Reverence to the Pro- phet, unto whom he fent aMeflage, letting him un* derftand the caufe of his coming: For the Prophet prefently anfwers him-, though by his Servant not by himfelf; Ver. i.o. And Eli/ha fent A Meffenger unto him, fay-Vttk *'*] I* * s not to ^ e thought that Eli/ha took State upon him , but it is to be aicribed to the retired fort of Life which the Prophets led, that he did not Alow himfelf to Naavtan. We fee an iaftance of this in the foregoing Chapter, where we read that he did not fo much as fpeak with the great Woman, who entertained him at her Houfe, and built an Apart- ment on purpofe for him ; but let her underftand what he had to fay, by his Servant 6ebazi,v* 125. A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Go and waft in Jordan feven times.'} Thus Lepers V. were fpnnkled by the Law of Mofes, feven times WV"VI XIV. Lcvit. 7, 8cc. But it is plain, by the next Verfe, Naafftan expefted the Prophet would have been fo civil as to come out to him, or invite him to his Houfe, and difcourfe with him. Neither of which the Prophet thought fit to do-, partly for a Trial of his Faith, and partly to let him know that this was not To difficult a thing as the Ring imagined, but fo eafy for him to efled by the Power of God, that he need not come out to talk with him about it: Let him but go to Jordan and warn there feven times, and the Cure (hould be performed. Jordan had no more Virtue in it (as he rightly faith afterwards) than other Rivers $ nor was the Earth of Ifrael better than that of Syria (though he begged two Load of it) but God prefided more particularly over this Coun- try, and his Power here appeared : And in this ap- peared the more, becaufe Water being cold was very bad for this Difeafe .- The Root of it being a white watrifh Humour, as Abarbinel notes, which would naturally by this means be increafed. And thy Fkjh (lull come again to thee.~] For the Le- profy had eaten into it, and confumed it in part as it did Miriam's, XII. Numb. 1 2. And thou[halt be clean."] Freed from this filthy Dif- eafe. Verfe 1 1. Ver. 1 1. But Naaman was wroth, and went away and fetid, behold, I thought furely he will come out to me, *nd call upon the Name of hif God, andftri^e his hand- over the place, and recover the Leper."] He was as angry with the Prophet, as if he had (corned and mocked him. fir/I, he thought himfelf defpifed in that he did not come to him, and falute him: And then he ought it a thing ridiculous to go and warn in Jordan , For the Second B*4 "/KINGS. For what could that Water do more than any other. Chapter Thus Mm (light common and eafy things, and ad- V. mire thole that are rare and difficult $ and in their Paffion reject that which God himfelr propounds to them, if it be not agreeable to their Humours, and fore Conceits. In which Paflion, if he had conti- nued, he had been a Leper to his dying day. Ver. 12. Are not Abana and Pharpar Rivers of Da- Verfe Mafiitf better than all the Waters in Ifrael .~] Happy are they who have fuch excellent Ser- vants as thefe, who both had the Courage to fpeak the Trurh to their Matter } and the Prudence to or- der it with all Submiffion, and Reverence. For, My Father, was a Title of Honour in that Country $ by which Name they called their Lords: As Kings were called tbe Fathers of their Country. And thefe Ser- C c c vanes 37 8 A COM ME N-TW R T upon Chapter vants perhaps had heard the young Maid talk much V. of the Power of the Prophet, which made them very L/*V"VJ defirous their Mafter would not refufe his Advice: Which they urge him to follow with great rxeafon : Byreprefeming to him that it was the Advice of a Prophet, who was guided by God to give him thefc Directions. And as it was not fit for Servants to fay to their Matters, when they order a thing, Why fo? Why not otherways? So much lefs (hould a Man fay fo to God, or his Minifter who fpeaks in his Name : Efpecially when he commands things that may be done without much trouble, or any pain. For if he had bid him cut, and burn, as Chirurgions many times do in grievous Sores, he would have fubmitted to it : And therefore it was unreafonable not to comply with his Prefcriptions, when he required him only to go, and waft himfelf in the River 'Jordan, which was a thing very eafy, in his way home, and would put him to no pain. Verfe 14. Vet. 14. Then went he down, And dipped hintfelf feven times in Jordan, according to the faying of the Man 0fGod.~] He fhowed himtelf a Perfon of great Probity, and Difcretion ^ who was not in fuch a Rage, but he could hear rVeafon : And did not re- fufe good Counfel from his Servants 5 but fuffered himfelf to be convinced, and over-ruled to yield un- to it. And bff Flejb came agaitt like the Flefh of a littk Child, and he was clean.~] God was not fo angry with him, as he was with Eli/ha $ but upon his Repentance, and Obedience to his Directions, vouchfafed him a perfeft Cure . There being no mark left of his Le- profy, but his Skin as clear and fmooth, as that of a little Child This was the only Cure of a Leprofy that the Second B0o\ he IXWJ and all hit Company, and came and food before hi*.~] Vcrfe 15. Now Eli/ha feems to have admitted mm into his Pre- fence. Andfaid, now I know that there is no God in all the Earth, but in IfraelJ] He returned to give thanks to God, as the good Samaritan did to our Saviour : Acknowledging the God that Elz/ba worfliipped to be the true God, and that there was no other. Now therefore^ I pray thee^ taty a. Blejpng of thy Servant^] A Reward, or rather a Token of his Gra- titude to him : For the Hebrews call all Gifts a Blejpng. TheHerai?.word B^ra-fignifying not only benedicere, but benefacere. Ver. 1 6. And he faid, as the LORD liveth &?/0reVerfe i6 whom Iftand> I will receive none : And he urged him to take it, but he refufeJ.~] He did not think it unlaw- ful to take it, for he received Gifts from others. But - he would have Strangers to their Religion know how good the God of Ifrael was.- Who made his Ser- vants fo good, that they did the greateft good to Mankind for nothing. Which generous Piety was apt to invite others to the Worfhip, and Service of this great and good God. For it gives great Autho- rity to a Teacher of Vertue, not to be covetous. See Laftantittf, Lib- 1. Div. Inflit. Cap. 4. Ver. 1 7. And Naaman faid^ Jhall there not then, /Vfe 17* pray thee, be given to thy fervant two Mules Burden of Earth?"] As much as two Mules could carry or draw. For thy Servant will henceforth offer neither Burnt- offering^ nor facrifice to any other God^ but unto the LOJRJ9.] Though he refufed to accept his Prefent, C c c 2 yet 3 8o A COMMENTARY */wr Chapter yet he doubted not he would prefent him with two> V. Burdens of Earth, which he intended to employ in ere&ing an Altar, whereon he would facrifice to na other God, but the LOUD. He judged it reafonable to have an Altar out of God's Land, becaufe he faw he peculiarly dwelt in IfraeL And though he might have taken enough as he went along in his way home, yet he defired it as a Gift from the Prophet : Fancy- ing perhaps that he would put a greater Virtue into it, by his Bleffing : As he tead done into the Waters of Jordan. Therefore RaWag thinks he defired to have this Earth out of Elijba* Houfe where he dwelt: And Abarbinel thinks, from under his very Feet in the place where he ftood : Of which there is no Cer- tainty. But it is plain he defired to receive it from the Prophet, who had convinced him that there was no God like to his : Who had fuch Power, and made Men Co vertuous, as to be above the Love of Mpney. iB. Ver. 18; In thk thing the LORD pardon thy Ser- vant, that when my Mafter goes into the Houfe of Rim~ mon, toworflrip there.] This was the God of the ty* rians, but no Author informs us what God this was> nor whence fo called. Only many conjecture, be- caufe RifMmon\n Hebrew fignifies a Pomegranate, that. Venut is hereby meant, to whom fuch Fruit was fa-^ cred. But Scaliger underftands this to be Jupiter the Thunderer, as they call'd him. And our S'lden thinks it is derived from Runt, which fignihes high. Whence Hefyckivti faith, o.Pa^s fignifies #4*5^ $&, the moft high God* And he fapteth on my hand."] Or Shoulder : Which he does out of State ^ or perhaps out of Weaknefs, for his Support. In the Additions to the Book of Efther, mention is made of two young Women that waited ; tK* Second Bool^ of K I N G S. 381 waited on that Queen, upon one of which (he leaned, Chapter and the other held up her Train, XV. 4. And it was V. not only the Cuftom among the Per/tans and Syrians^ but the Ifraelites alfo, as we read in this Book, VII. 2. 17- And I bow myfelfin the Houfe of Rimmon."] Toge- ther with his Mafter$ who could not well bow, if Naaman flood upright, and did not bow his Body with him. When I bow down my felf in the Houfe ofRimmon^, the LORD pardon thy Servant in thrf thing,"] He hoped he might without offence to the Divine Majefty, whom alone he refolved to worthip, keep the great Office he had under the King his Matter, and confe- quently bow himfelf when he went/ with him into the Temple ofRimmon: He who fees into the Hearts of Men, knowing it was no Aft of Worfhip to that God j but only a neceflary refpeft to his Matter. And fo the word is ufed for civil Honour, as well as Re- ligious Adoration. Thus Lud. de Dieu hath clearly rendred this whole Verfe, In thif thing the LORD pardon thy Servant, when my Mafter enters into the Temple of Rimmon to worfltfp there, he lean upon my, hand, and fo 1 bow my felf (that *r, together with him) in the Hottfe of Rivtmon : When I bow my felf in the Houfe of Rintvtonthe LORD pardon thy Servant inthfc thing. Let him net take Orfence, fince I intend not-- to worship Rimwon-y as appeared by his facrincing only to the God of JfraeL An Ifraelite indeed was forbidden to bow before an Idol^ whaffoever his Mind or Intention was in that '-Aft : But a Stronger was not bound by this Law, as Mr. Selden (hows tbe pinion of the Jews is, Lil. II. de Jitre Nat. & Gent i Gap. XI. Therefore when Naaman went into the Temple, not of his own accord, but merely to waitt A COMMENTA RT upon Chapter upon his Mafter, and perform the Duty of his Office ; V. fince he profetfed himfelf a Worfhipper of the moft V^V^VJ high God alone, and brought Earth out of his Land, and facrificed only upon the Altar made of it : All he thought might underftand he did not worfhip Rim- ttton, but only payed his refpects to the King, when he bowed with him. Vcrfe I9 ^ er * 1 9' ^ n ^ he f aid unto him, Go in peace."] The Prophet did not condemn this $ but bad him not trou- ble himfelf about this Matter . For he did not offend againft God's Law, which was not intended for fuch as he was. Though there are fome of the Jews, who think that thefe words, go m Peace, relate to the Verfe foregoing $ that he need not to trouble himfelf about carrying Earth with him out of the Land of Jfrael to make an Altar (for it doth not appear he gave him any) and fo left this Matter of bowing in the Houfe of Rintmon undetermined. And no lefs a Perfon than Bocharttts hath a large Diflertation about this whole Matter $ wherein he indeavours to defend their Opinion, who think Naaman begs Pardon for what he had done in times paft, not for what he fhould continue to do } and renders thefe words (as Dr. Lightfoot alfo doth) when I have howedfcc. But this feemsto me altogether improbable ^ for then he would not have mentioned what he did as the King's Ser- vant $ but (imply the Idolatry he had committed in worshipping Kitttmon. Befides, the Oriental Ver- fions, as well as the Gr^ and the Vulgar, and the Hebrew Do&ors generally, as well as Chriftian Inter- preters, underftand it as we do, that he fpeaks of the future Aft of bowing.' Which being only a civil Aftion, and he declaring himfelf publickly to be a Worfcipper only of the God of Ifrael, he hoped would not be imputed to him, as a fin. And fo the famous the Second Bdol^of KINGS. 383 famous Buxtorfiuf fn~a-Letter to Theod. Haclypan faith, Chapter Omnes quotquot vidi Interpretes referunt ad futttrum, V. &c. 4 All Interpreters, as many as I have feen, refer U^VSJ ' this to the future, and not to the time paft : And ' fo doth the Cbatdee Paraphraft himfelf .- And I am ' very much of the fame Opinion. Se he departed from hint a little way.'] About a Mile from the City, as the Jewifi Doctors underftand it. Ver. 20. But Gthazr, the Servant of the Man 0f Verfe 20* God, faid, Behold my Mafter hathfpared Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at hit hands that which he brought } but of the LORD liveih I will run after him^ and take fomewhat of him."] He feems to be angry that his Mafter had been fo kind to one that needed not his Charity, and was one alfo of another Nation, aiid therefore in his Paflion fwore, he would take fome- thing of him. Which Covetoufnefs plunged him in- to a great many other Sins, as the Apoflle obferves it ufually detn, i Tim. VI. 9, 10. Dr. Ligktfoot thinks the Hebrew Text hath divinely omitted a Let- ter in one word, that it might the more brand him for this Villany. / will run, faith he, after Naamav, and take HD"1Q a Blot, inftead of D01HO fomt- &>hat. Ver. 21, And Gehazi followed Naaman 5 and fl?^Vcrfe 21* J3aa.manjaw him, be lighted down from the Chariot to meet hint, andfaid, is all well V] Behold, the Honour fee gave to the Prophet, in doing (uoh Honour to his Servant : Which teftified he had a great Senfe of God, and of his Coodnefs to him, in his Heart Ver. 2,2. And he faid all tf weff: My Mafter bath \fxtfa fent me, faying, behold even now there r feme to me from Mount Ephraim, two of the Sons of the Prop&et*^ It feems there was a School there, as well as at jFerl- Bethdj Carxt&ls aad otiier Places. Givs A co M M E N T A R r H P* Chapter Give them, I pray thee, aTaknt of Silver, and tw* V. changes of Raiment.} To relieve their Poverty. This was the firft iruit of hisCoverouinefs, which put him upon inventing fuch a wicked Slander of his Matter. For why (hould hlijha defire fo much Silver for two young Scholars > Which might tempt Naawan to think, that though he publickly declined to take a Gift from him, yet he fecretly defired it. See Dr. Hammond on VI. S. Matth. Annot. 4 Verfe 23. Ver. 13. And Naaman faid, be content , take two Talents , and Ix urged him.] It is likely Gehazi pre- tended to keep ttriftly to his Matter's Orders, and would have but one, till Naawans Generofity pre(Ted and overcame him to take more. And he bound two Talents of Silver in two Bags, with two changes of Raiment, and laid them upon two of his Servants, and they bare them before him^] As Servants do before Perfons of Honour. Verfe 24. Ver. 24. And when he came to the Tower."] To the place where El//ba lodged. Or, as fome will have it, to zfecret place where he laid up what he had got. Be took^them from the Men, and beftowed them in the Houfe, : And let the Men go, and they departed.'] For he was afraid his Matter mould fee them. Verfe 25. Ver. 25. And he came in, and flood before his Ma- fter.~] As Servants were wont to do, to fee if their Matters wanted any thing. And Eliflja faid unto /'/*, whence come ft thoH And hefaid, thy Servants went no whither."} This was another impudent Lye, wherein he thought to de- ceive his Matter, though he was a Prophet. Which was an impious Endeavour, to deceive the Spi- rit of God, whofe Minifter Eliflya. was : Like that Lye at Ananias and Sapphira, V, A8. 3,&C. Ver. 26. the Second Bool^ of K 1 N G S. Ver. 26. And hefaid, went not my heart with thee, Chapter when the Man turned Again from bit Chariot to meet V. thee ..~] He punifhed him with the worft fort of Leprofy, which was incurable. For his Sin was ex- ceeding great, or rather he was guilty of many fins 5 befides thofe already mentioned : Being a Thief, and taking that to himfelf, which was given to others. Nay, he was a Sacrilegious Perfon, in robbing the Sons of the Prophets, who were Men belonging to God, in a fpecial manner. The Hebrew Doctors rec- kon fevcn fins, for which God puniihed Men with Ddd the 3 86 A COMMENTAKY npon Chapter the Plague of Leprofy, and endeavour to prove it V. out of Scripture : And Gehazi was guilty of more than one of them, and therefore juftly punilhed in an extraordinary manner. They are, an evil Tongue, (bedding of Blood, a falfe Oath, uncovering of any forbidden Nakednefs, Inflation of Spirit, Rapine, and Envy. a v f r CHAP. vr. Verfe i. Verfe i. \N& tbt Sons of tlw Prophets^ That were \ at for that is the place laft men- tioned where the Prophet was, IV. 38. andwasalfo near to Jordan mentioned in the next Verfe. Said unto Eli/ha, behold now the place where we dwell with thee."] They had their Colledges fometimes in Cities (as in Bethel) and fometimes in the Fields, and fometimes upon Mountains. It is probable this was in the Fields $ where Eli/ha for the prefent, was refident among them. Istooftrait for f.] Their number of Scholar* was fo much increafed under fo eminent a Matter as\he was, that there was not room enough for them. Verfe a. Ver. 2. Let vtgowe praythee."] They were fo much under his Government, that they did not take the Liberty to go any whither without his Leave. Unto Jordan.] Near to which many Trees grew. And take from thenct every Man a Beam] A piece of Timber. And let m wake m a place there, wfare we way dwell.] A Tabernacle large enough to contain them all. From whence we may gather that the Sons of the Prophets, did the Second Bool^ of K I N G S. 387 did not fpend all their time in ftudying the Law, Chapter Meditation and Prayer, and fuch Holy Exercifes: VI. But alfo imployed themfelvcs in fome Manufa&ures, as the Apoftles did in after times .- Some of which were Tent makers (XVIII. Aff. 3.) like to thefe here mentioned. And be anfwered, go ye.] He confented to their De- fign, the place which they chofe being very commo- dious for Students. As St. fdierom obferves, who in more places than one (fee his Epiftles to Rufthw and to Paulina) compares the Monks of his time with thefe Sons of the Prophets, Slfi babitabant in agrjf, and folititdinibvs, & fachbant Jibi tabernacuU f rope fluent a Jerdanis. Ver. 3. And one fatd, be content, I pray thee* and Verfe go with thy Servants. And he anfwered, I will go."] They thought their Defign would profper the better under his Conduct: And that if any one queftioned what they did, his Authority would over-awe them. Ver. 4^ So he went with tbem^ and when they came t* Jordan, they cttt down Wood^] They began to go about their work. Ver. 5. But as one was felling 4 Beam the Ax-headVtttt fell Into the Water.'] Being not well faftned to the Helve $ or, rather the Helve breaking. And he erred, and faid, alas ! Mafter, for it was borrowed.'] Good Men are religioufly careful that none Cuffer by their Kindnefs to them. This mows that as thefe Sons of the Prophets wrought with their own hands, going themfelves to cut down Wood to build withal, fo (fome of them at leaft) they were but poor, being not furnithed with Tools for their Work, but forced to borrow. D d d 2 Ver. 6. 3 g8 A POMM'ENTARY upon Chapter Ver. 6. And the Man of God faid, where fell it? and VI. he fhowed him the place, and he cut down a ftickj] To L/'VNj ferve, I fuppofe, inftead of a Helve. VerCe 6. And caft it into the Water, and the Iron did fwim.~] A double Miracle as the Jews underftand it, that Iron which was funk down to the bottom, rofe up: And then went to the Stick, and was joyned to it, as its Helve. For to what end (hould he throw a Stick in- to the Water, but that it (hould ferve this purpofe. Terfe 7. Ver. 7. Therefore fad he, take it to thee, and he put out hfr hand and took^ it.~\ It fell near the River fide, or was brought tfeither when it rofe up. Verfc 8. Ver. 8. Then the King of Syria warred againfl Ifrael, and took, counfel with hjf Servants, faying^ in fuch anA fuch a place fhallbe my Cawp>~] He did not rely merely on the number of his Forces, but fecretly refolved, by the Advice of his Counfel, to place them in fuch Pofts, where he might hope to furprife the Ifraelites. It may feem ftrange, that after fuch a great Benefit lately received in the Cure of Naaman, the King (hould fend him, who was Captain of his Hoft, to fight againft IfraeL But who can tell how long this was after that time, when Naantan might be dead ? Or, perhaps Naaman might have loft his place; be- caufe he rcfufed to wormip Rimmon : And no Bene- fit will reconcile inveterate Enemies. Vcrfe 9. Ver. 9, And the Man of God, fent to the King of If- rael faying, beware that thou pafs not fuch a place 5 fir thither the Syrians are come down."] And had laid an Ambum for him there. Verfe 10. Ver. 10. And the King of Ifrael fent to the place^ which the Man of God told him^ and warned, him of."] He fent fome Spies to fee whether Elifha gave him true Information. the Second Boo^ of KINGS. And faved himfelf there, not once, or twice.'] By this Chapter means he frequentlyTaved his Souldiers from falling yf. into the hands of the Syrians : Who lay in wait for ww^ them in fuch places, where they would certainly have gone, if they had not been told of the Danger. Ver. ii. Therefore the Heart of the King of Syria 9 Vetk 1 1. was forely troubled for this thirty: And he called his Ser- vants.] With whom he had confulted how to carry on this War, v. 8. And faid unto them, will you notfljow nte, which of *r ar for the King oflfrael .*] Betrays my Counfels to him : For he could not think he mould meet with fuch con- ftant Difappointments, unlefs it were by Treachery. Ver. 12. And we of his Servants faid. None ^ Verfe t*. Lord, King : But Elijha the Prophet that is in Ifrtel, telleth the King of Ifrael the words thon fyeakeft in thy Bed-chamber ] It is likely Naaman had fpread the Fame of the Prophet fo much in this Court, that fome of them made further enquiry after him : And heard more of his miraculous Works. And thence con- cluded he could tell the greateft Secrets, as well as do fuch Wonders, as were reported of him. Ver. 13. And hefaid y Go, attdfpy where he /V, that Verfe r$; I may fend and fetch hi*.~] A very foolifti Defign. As if the Prophet could not as well know this, as he did the reft of his other Counfels. And it was told hi/ft, faying, he is in Dothan.'] A City in the Tribe of Manajfih 5 not far from Schechem and Samaria. Ver. 14, Therefore fent he thither Horfes, and C 1 ^ Verfe z 4. riots, and a. great Hofl.] That the People of Dothan r being affrighted at the fight of fuch a Number of Sol- diers, might not dare to defend the Prophet. A COMMENTARY upon Chapter ^#^ they came by Night , and incompaffed the City VI. ab0Ht.~] That no Intelligence might be carried to Sa- Vcrfe If. Ver. 15. And when the Servant of the Man of God was rifen early .~] As Students were wont to do. And was gone forth.] Out of the Door of the Houfe, which ftood high $ the City being built upon a Hill. Behold, an Hoft compaffed the City, both with Horfes and Chariots: And his Servant f aid unto him, alas my Mafter, howfiall we do . Country, they know&ot whither* Ihti A COMMENT 4 RT upon Chapter But be ltd them to Sawaria.~] This (hows they were VI. not wholly blind, for then they could not have been \XVNj ted by him. But were dark, as we fpeak, and could not clearly difcern who it was that led them, nor whither they were going. Here the Jews cry, behold a double Miracle ! Eti/has Servant (aw that which appeared to no body elfe$ and the Syrians could not difccrn, that which every Body elfe faw. Verfe 2O. ^ e r- 20. And it c*me to />*/}, when they were come into Samaria^ that Eli/ha faid^ LORD, open the Eyes ofthefe Men that they may fee : And the LORD opened tlxir Eyes, and they farv, that behold they were in the tttidft of Samaria.~] To their great Aftonifhment, no doubt, when they found that he had made them all Captives, whom they came to carry away to Syria. Vcrfe 21. Ver. 21. An d the King tf Ifraelfaid to Eliflia , when hefaw them^ my Father^} This Miracle touched him with great Reverence to the Prophet. Shall If mite them, Jhalllfmite them.] This Repeti- tion of the Queftion, exprefles his eager Defire to fall upon them, and kill them : If the Prophet would hare permitted. Verfc 3t. Vtr. 22. And he anfwered, thou /halt not fmite them^} There was a Command to deftroy the People of the fcven Nations $ yet not, if they yielded to them. But as for other Perfons, who were taken in the War, they were not bound to deftroy them : But it was Hu- manity rather to fpare them. Whence it is that the Pro- phet here forbids the King to fmite thcfe, who were not under the Curfe of the People of Canaan. Wouldft thon fmite thofe whom thou haft takfn Captive with thy Sword) and rvith thy Bow?] As much as to fay, thou would ft not be fo cruel, as in cold Blood to kill thofc whom thou thy felf had ft taken Prifoners in the Second Boo\ BRINGS. in a Battle. Much more then are thofe to be fpared, Chapter who are not thy Captives, but God's. Thou haft VI. not taken them with thy Sword, or with thy Bow $ w^w^/ but he hath brought them to thee, and delivered them into thy hand : Not that thou may ft kill them, but ufe them kindly. To this purpofe Ratbag, fee Selden de Jure Nat. &Gent. p. 745. Set Bread and Water before them that they may eat and drink* and go to their Mafter."] And tell him what Civility and Kindncfs there is among the People of God. This is a rare Example of that which St. Pattl recommends to us, XII. Rom. 20. If thine Enemy hun- ger feed him, if he thirft give hint Drink^ &c. Ver.23,. And he prepared great Provifon for them ,Verfe 23. and when they had eat and drunk^ he jent them away, and they went to their Mafter.~\ This is a new Won- der, that the Hearts of the Ifradites ihould fo yield unto the Command of the Prophet, as not only to fpare, but to entertain bountifully their old Ene- mies. And the Bands of the Syrians came no more into the Land of Ifrael.] Great Hatreds are fometimes over- come by unexpe&ed and undeferved Benefits. As many of the Heatkens have obferved, that this is the nobleft way to conquer them, particularly Valeriw Maxivtiff. Specio/fw injitri pear again ft him in the Field : So that he marched directly to Samaria^ and laid fiege to it. Verfe 2f. y er 2 <*. And there was a great Famine in Samaria, and behold i they bejteged it till an Affes Head was fold for fourfcore pieces of Silver^] The Siege laftcd fo long, or they were fo ill provided for it, that there was a great Scarcity of Food in this City : Infomuch that an Afs's Head was fold for fo many Shekels, as make five Pound of our Money. A great Sum for the Head, when the whole 3ody was little worth: And it being an unclean Creature, it was not lawful for the Ifraelites to eat (yea, was accounted unclean by the Arabians*) unlefs in cafe of extream Neceffity. See Bochartus in his Hierozorcon^ P. I. Lib. II. Cap. XIII. where he obferves out of Plutarch, that there was fuch a Scarcity in Artaxerxes his Army, when he was among the Cadnjii, that an Afs's Head was fold for threefcore Drachms. And the Second Boo^ of K I N G S. And the fourth part of a Cab.] A Cab was a very fmall Chapter Meafure of Corn $ containing, as the Jews fay, as VI. much as twenty four Eggs would hold. It is never L/"V\J mentioned in the Scripture, but only here $ though very often in the Talmud in the Title Kiddufiiw. See Imlonacius in the Biblioh. Mag. Rabbin. Tom. V. p. 349. All agree it was fuch a Meafure as I have men- tioned : So that the fourth part of it, was no more than fix Eggs would contain, called a Log, as Bo- chart thinks. Of Doves Dung.'] So the Chaldee, Syriack., Arabic^ and LXX. tranflate the Hebrew word Hirjonim : And fo a great many of the JewiJJj Dodors, Jarchi, Kzw- chi, Ralbag underftand it. Though it be very hard to believe, that Doves Dung mould be fo plentiful in a City, as to be fold in any Quantity } or that Men mould eat it : When every one knows there is no Nourilhment in fuch Excrements, and lefsin that of Doves than in others, as is obferved by Bochartw $ who after he hath confuted many other Opinions, hath made it very probable, that Fitches, or Lentiles are here meant } which were the vileft of ail Food, and yet fold at this dear Rate. For that fome fort of Food is here meant, is plain from what goes before. See his Hierozoicon, P. x. Lib. I. Cap. VII. For Jive pieces of Silver."] Which the fame Author computes to be as much as Nine French Livres. Ver. 26. And as the King oflfrael was faffing by up- Verfe 16. on the Wall.'] To fee if they kept their Guards well : Or, to obferve how the Enemy lay. There cried unto hint a Woman^ faying, help, wy Lord, King. Ver. 27. And he faid, if the LORD do not help Vcrfe 17. thee, whence fiaS I help thce ? Out of the Barn -floor, or out of the Wine-frefs . what aileth thee ./**s Ver. 31. Then he far d^ God do fo to me, and more Vcrfc 2f alfo, if the Head of Eli/ha the Son ofShtphatjhtUfttvd on him thtf day^] Such was the Arbitrary Power wkich thefe Kings exercifed 5 which took away Mens Lives, without any formal Procefs againft them : And the reafon of this furious IVefolution feems to be, either becaufe Eli/ha had hindred him from fmiting the great Hoft of the Syrians, when he had them cooped up in Samaria (v. 4. 21, 22.) which might have difabled them from bringing him into thefe (traits : Or, be- caufe Elffha did not imploy his Intereft in God, as he expefted, to give them Deliverance. Therefore he fwore he mould not live till Night. Ver. 32. And Elijlufat in hit Houfe."] In the School, y cr f c ~ a . where the Sons of the Prophets came to be inftru&ed by him. And the Elders fat with him."] We often read in E- &f/V,. of the Elders of Ifrael fitting before the Pro- phet to hear him, VIU. i.XXII. 24. And fo fome underftand it here, of the chief Perfons in Samaria^ who were come to confult him. But it rather figni- fies his chief Scholars, fome grave Perfons, who ap- plyed themfelves to the Study of Divine things, and were now with him. And the Kingfent a Man from before him,~\ Com* manded one that attended him, to go, and execute the Sentence he had pronounced againft Elifi*. But ere the Mejjengers came to him^ he faid to tht Elders^ fee ye hew thif Son of a Murderer hath fent t* take avpay mine Head >] He underftood, by the Spirit of Prophecy, the wicked Intentions of the King ? Who A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Who was like his Father Ahab, that had murdered VI. many of the Prophets of the LORD. ^V^SJ Look, when the Mejjexger cometh, flmt the Door, and hold hint faft at the Door. Is not the found of hit Ma- fter's feet behind himT} He charged them to lay hold of him before he came into the Room, and not fuffer him to enter: For the King would immediately fol- low him, to revoke his Order. So he forefaw by the fame Spirit of Prophecy, that the King repented of what he had decreed, and was coming to revoke it : And therefore he only required the Elders to do that, which he knew the King would do himfelf, viz. Stop the Meflenger at the Door, and let him proceed no further. This will not warrant private Men to apprehend publick Officers 5 nor to ufe fuch words to Princes, as the Prophet here doth to Jo- raw, whom he calls the Son of a Murderer, by a Di- vine Motion. Which authorized him to reprefent him, as the impious Son of a very impious Fa- ther. Verfe 33* Ver. 33. And while he yet talked with them, behold, the Meffenger came down unto him : And he faid, be- hold, thff evil if of the LORD, what fljould I wait for the LORD tiny longer?] Some imagine that the Mef- fenger being come, fpake thefe words in the King's Name. But it feems more reafonable to think the King, who was alfo come, fpake them himfelf, in a fit of raging Defpair. He could not but acknow- ledge, that the LORD had brought them into this Diftrefs. Upon whom Elijha exhorted him to wait till he would pleafe, ( who only could do it) to deliver them. But he impatiently anfwered, he had waited fo long In vain, that he had no Hope left, (ine they were driven to fuch Extremity, that Wo- men eat their own Children. Or, thefe words may be be thus interpreted (taking the former part of them Chapter to be fpoken by the Prophet, and the latter by the VI. King) And he faid, that is, the Prophet faid, ao knowledge the hand of God in this Evil, which comes from him. To which the King replied, and what elfe can I expect from the LORD, unlefs it be fuch Plagues ? No, faith El/fta in the very next words, ye (hall have Plenty here to Morrow. CHAR VII. Verfe i. \ND Eltfhafaid.'] Unto the King, whoVerfe i. ./Y followed the Meflenger (fee foregoing Chapter, v. 32,33.) and fpake fuch words, as Elifha here fatisfies him were very unreafonable. Hear ye the Word of the LORD, thus faith the LORD^ to morrow about this ti#te, fljall A Meafure of fine flour he fold for a Shekel, and two Meafnres of Barley for, A Shekel."] The Hebrew word beak fignifies a certain Meafure, containing the thirtieth part of an Ower ; Which is about a Peck of our Meafure. In the Gate of Sa0taria.~] Which was the Market- place, as well as a place for other publick Meetings... See 2 Sam. XIX. 8. Ver. 2. Then a Lord, on whofe hand the. Ki#g lean- Veife* 3v Some think this was.. the MefTenger, which the King fent to fee Execution done upon Eliflut. Who- foever he was he was greatly beloved by the King.- For when he went abroad he leaned on, him, which? was a fign he was dear to- him. For this State Kings, in thofe Countries took upon them, to lean upon* fome. Favourite, As Queen Efiher, . the Jews fay, hacL A COMMENTARY .^v. a young kuty on whom (he retted her right hand, VIL af ter tnc manner of the Rafter* Kings. See upon C^VNJ V. 18. Anfwered the Man of God, and f aid, behold, if the LORD fbould make. Windows in Heaven, might thit thing be .* it felf was then divided into feveral King- doms : Whofe help the Syrians thought the King of Ifael had procured. % Vtt. ?. Wherefore they awfe and fled in the Twilight.^ Being but newly gone, when the Lepers came thi- ther. And they left their Tents, and their Horfes, and their Ajfes.~] Affes were employed in War as well as Hor- fes ^ at leaft for carrying of their Baggage. So Bo- charttts obferves out of Pollux, %gw* ^ 9 &$ r 7ri\((ju&. gwqiu&p*jt*M 6ce, AfTes are of ufe in War to carry Burdens. There were feveral People alfo, that fought upon Afles, as others did upon Horfes : Which he proves out of JElian, and other Authors, See Hie- rozoicon^ P. i. Lib. II. Cap. XIII. Even the Camp as it. n>as y and fled for their Life."] They thought of faving nothing but themfelves 5 their Fear being fo great, that they left all they had behind them. B. Ver. 8. And w>he# thefs Lepers came into the utter- mojl part of the Camp^ they went into one Tent, and did eat and drink^ and carried thence Silver and Gold^ and Raitttent .5 and went and hid it. And came again* and entred into another Tent, and carried from thence alfb, and went and hid tt.~] They had fatisfied their Hunger in the firft Tent, fo that they had nothing- now to do, but to get what Treafure they could find,, and fecure it. Yeife CJ* Ver. 9* Then they, fad, one to another, we do not* mil.] When thejr had both well refrelhed, and in- *kbsd theoifelves,, and alib fecured thek Booty, they tie Second Boo\ of K I N CJS. %egan to refleft upon the Diftrcfs of their Brethren : Chapter And condemned themfelves for making no more hafte VII. to impart unto them, the Difcovery they had made -of the Enemies Flight, and the Plenty of all things that they found in their Camp. Tim if A day of good Tidings, and we hold our Peace."] Do not publim the Goodnefs of God to us If we tarry till the Morning Light, fome MifchiefwiU come itpon us.~] The Syrians might poffibly recover out of their Fright, and return when they Jaw none purfue them : Or, fome of them might be lurking thereabout, and come and kill them. Now therefore come, that we may go and teU the Kings Houfiold.] Impart this joyful News to the Ci- ty. For every good Citizen is in Duty bound, to <3ifcover every thing that is for the publick Safety. Ver. 10. So they came and catted to the Porter of the Verfe City."} To him that was the chief Commander at the Gate of Samaria. And they told them^} Him and the Guard that was with him. Saying^ we came into the Camp of the Syrians -, and behold^ there was no Man there 5 neither Force of Man^ but Horfes tied, and Affes tied, and the Tents as they were.'] Standing without any Body in them : But full t)f Provifion, and Riches. Ver. n. And he called the Porters."} Of the King s Vcrfe Houfe, And they told it to the Kings Hortfe within^] Re- ported it in the Court, till it came to the King's Ears. Ver. 12. And the King arofe in the Night, and f aid Verfe unto hfc Servants, I will now jhow you what the Syrians 'have done tovs^ What their Stratagem is. Fffa 404 * COMMENTARY upon Chapter They know that we be hungry, therefore are they gom , VII. out of the Camp, to hide themfelves in the Field, faying, VX"WJ when they fhatlcome out of the City we ftaU catch them alive, and get into the City.~] His long Sufferings had made him fufpicious and cautious : And this was no improbable Conje&ure. Verfc 13. Ver. 13. And one of his Servants anfaered andfaid, letfome take, I fray thee y five of the fJorfes that remain, which are left in the City (Behold, they are as all the Mul- titude of Ifrael that are left in it : Behold, I fay, tkey are even as all the Multitude of the Ifraelites that are con- fumed) and let us fend and fee.} He repeats his Ad- vice twice, that it might make the greater Impreffion on the King. The Senfe of which is this: That they were almoft confumed with Hunger, and muft fhort- ly die, as all the Horfes and the Ifraelites had done, whom the Famine had killed. Therefore if thefe Horfes and Men were taken by the Syrians there would be^no great Lofs of them $ for they would be loft if they remained in Samaria. Verfe 14. Ver. 14. They took, therefore two Chariot Horfes, and the King fent after the Hoft of the Syrians, faying go, and fee!} Whether they were gone, or no. Some underftand the Horfes of two Chariots, which might in all be five : But it is more probable, the King would venture no more than two Horfemen, which he thought enough: Who took two of the Horfes of his own Chariot to make Difcovery. Vcrfe If* Ver. 15. And they went after them unto Jordan."} Finding the Camp empty, as the Lepers had related : They purfued them as far as this River. And lo all the way was full of Garments, which the Syrians had cajl away in their hafle : and the Meffen- gers returned and told the King.} The Certainty of their Flight to their own Country. Ver. 16. the Second BooT^ of KING S; Ver. 1 6. And the People went out, and foiled //5e Chapter Tents of the Syrians. So a meafure of fine Flour was fold-* VII. for a Shekel, and two- meafures of Barley for a Shekel, according to the Word of the LO R D.~] They found Verfe fach ftore of Provlfion, in the Tents of the Syrians, that it made this fudden Change in the Price of Corn 5 according tarEliJbii Prediction. Ver. 17. And the King appointed the Lordtn whom Vcrfe his hand leaned, to have the Charge of the Gate."] To take care the People did not run out tumultuoufly, and leave the City empty 5 nor commit any Diforder in the Gate : Being, very eager to get Vi&uals. And the People trod upon hint, in the Gate, and he died.] They came out in fuch Crouds, and prefledv upon him fo hard, that they threw him, down, and', trod him to Death. As the Man of God had faid t who fpake when the King came down to him, v. 2. Ver. 1 8. And it came to pafs, as the Man of God bad frr. r . i* r rr\ t ^ to the &-ing, Jaying, two Meajures of Barley for hekfl* nov behold, if the LORD fbould make Win- dows in Heaven, might fuch a thing be $ And he f aid thou foalt fee with thine Eyes, but fh alt not eat thereof] This part of the Hiftory is repeated, becaufe it is a moft remarkable fulfilling of a Divine Predi&ion : Whereby their Belief of God's Providence, ordering all things in a wonderful manner, was confirmed. Ver. 20. 4 o and fojourned in the Land of the Phtti (lines feven Tears.'} This Country was fo near, that (he might eafily remove her Family thither ^ ancl likewife hear fometimes from her own Country. They were Idolaters indeed, but they fuffered thofe that were not, to live quietly among them 5 as their Fore- fathers had done : Who enter- tained Abraham and Jfaac with much Friend (hip, and did not trouble themfelves about their Religion : As Jacob in like manner fojourned a long time among Idolaters in Mefopotamia. This fhows the Severity of God's Anger againft Ifrael, that he accounted them worfe than the Pkilijlines : Who had Plenty among them, when the Israelites were almoft ftarved. Ver. 5. And it came to pafs at the feven Tears Verfe &.- snd^ that the Woman retnrned out of the Land of the Philiftines, and fhe went forth to cry unto the King for her Hattfe, and for her Land.'] Which fome think her Kindred had feized, as if (he had been dead. But it 9 more likely that (he carried her Relations along with her, into the Land of the Philiflines .- And k was the Cuftom here, as in other places, that they who left their Country had their Goods confifcated- See Grotiuf. Ver. 4. And the King talkedirvith Gehazi the Servant 'Verfe 4. of the Man of God, faying, tell me I pray thee all the great things that Eli/ha hath done.~] Some of the Jews think, that the King feeing Gehazt^ askt him how he came to be leprous . And thereupon he related to him the Hiftory of Naamanthz Syriam Which mo- ved the King v ekher to fotisfle his Curiodty, or paffr tbe tune pleafantly,, ta defire ta hear all the A COMMENTARY upon Chapter other Miracles Eli/ha had wrought/ But he had no VIII. Intention to be convinced by them, and turn to .U*V*SJ God But then here arifes a Queftion, how Gekazi came to be admitted to fpeak with him : Being a Le- per, who was not to come into any Company, much lefs into the King's Prefence. This Difficulty, Tome think, cannot be folved without affirming, that this fell out before Gehazi left Elifba's Service : Such uV^Aoj^, as the Greeks call it, being frequent in Scripture : And the Jews in Seder Qlam RMa place this Famine before the Story of Naawan.- Which fpoils what they fay of the occafion of this Difcourfe. But there is no need to aflert this : For either Gchazl upon his Repentance might be reftored to Health ; or, he might fpeak with the King at a due diftance, as he walked in the Field for his Recreation : And de- fired to be entertained with a Relation of El/flu's Miracles. Thus Naa/nan converfed with El/fias Fa- mily at a diftance : And the Lepers called to our Sa- Viour, as he went along the High- way, XVII. S.Luke 12. Verfc 5. Ver. 5. And it came to pafs, as he was telling the King, how he reftored a dead Body to Life, that, bc- hold^ the Woman whofe Son he reftored to Life, cried fo the King for her Houfe^ and for her Land : And Ge- hazifaid, my Lord, King, this is the Woman* and thif ff her Son^ whom El/Jha reftored to Life."] By a wonderful Providence (he came to prelent her Pe- tition, and brought her Son with her, in that very nick of time, when Gehazi was telling the Story of his Reftauration to Life : That the King might be the more fully fatisfied of the Truth of what he related, from her own Mouth. Ver. 6. tie Second Boo\ of K I N G S. 409 Ver. 6. And when the King ask* the Woman, /fo Chapter told hiv/.~] That is, confirmed what Gehazi had VIII. laid. So the King appointed unto her a certain Officer."] In Verfe the Margin, an Eunuch 5 that is, one or his Bed- chamber. Saying, reft ore all that was hers^ and all the Fruits jf the Fitl4.~] Not only her Houfe, and Land: But all the Profits that had been mad of them, and brought into his Exchequer. Since the Day that OK left the Land, even till now."] This was an high Aft of Juftice \ and an Argument of fome Goodnefs left in a bad Man .- That he would not gain any thing by her Calamity. Ver. 7. And Elijha went to Damafcw."] In the time Verfe of the Famine, I fuppofe, he went hither^ as the Wo- man did to the Philiflinef. And Benhadad King of Syria was feck* and it wtt told him, faying the Man &f God is cotxe hither."] Who having cured Naaman, had raifed a great Opinion of his Power, with God, in that Country. Ver. 8. And the King faid unto Hazael."] Who was Verfe the Captain of his Hoft. Take A Prefent in thy hand, and go, meet the Man of God> and enquire of the LORD ly hitn^ faying^ fhatt I recover of this Difeafe >] They who confulted Pro- phets, were wont aiway to carry a Prefent with them, in token of the Honour they had paid them : As appears by many Inftances, particularly of Jero- boams Wife in this Book. It is probable alfo, he begg'd his Prayers for his Recovery $ acknowledg- ing nim to be a Man of God. Ver. 9. And Hazael went to meet hint.] As he was Verfe coming into Damafcw. Ggg And 4 ,o A COMMENTARY upon Chapter And, tool( a Prefect with him, of every good, thing of VIII. Damafcus^ forty Camel f Burden $ and came and flood CXV*SJ before hiff/J] This was a very noble Prefent ^ which whether he accepted or refufed, is not mentioned in the Holy Scripture. Abarbinel thinks he accepted it, becaufe nothing is faid to the contrary, as there is in the cafe of Naaman, who prefented him with Silver and Gold, and Raiment, and fuch like things of Va- lue. Whereas this was only a Provifion of Food, fuch as Bread and Wine, and Fruit, and Fowl : Which was a fit Prefent for him to make to the Pro- phet, who might be prefumed to be weary with his Journey, and as fit for him to accept for his Re- fremment. Vrfe IO. Ver. I.O. And Elijhafaid unto kirn, Go, fay Jtnto him, thon ma) 'ft certainly recover : Howbeit the LORD hath /hewed me that he flail certainly die.~\ His Difeafe was not of fuch a Nature, as would endanger his Life, if he did not lofe it by forne other means ; as the Pro- phet forefaw he would. For Jofephvs faith, his Dif- eafe was only a deep Melancholy, into which he fell upon the (hameful Flight of his Army, when no Ene- my was near them. This affefted his Body, and took away his Appetite : But might have been cured. Verfe n.. Ver. n. And he fetled htf Countenance fledfaftly till he, wot afoamed, and the Man of God wept?] The mod fimple Senfe is, He looked upon Hazael fo long, with a fetled Countenance^ that Hazael was afham'd: And he himfelf fell a weeping. Perhaps he faftned his Eyes upon him as a Man aftomfhed, and that in an Ecftafy faw fome dreadful thing reprefented to him. Others interpret it, he turned away his Face On one fide, till he was afhamed, becaufe he wept : Which he would not have had Hazael feen. Others, he the Second B^ of KINGS. 411 he fctled his Countenance, not to weep $ but he Chapter could not refrain from Tears. VIH. Ver. 12. And Hazael faidj why weepeth nty Lord ? L/"V*SJ And he anfoered, becaufe I know the Evil thou wilt do Verfe 1 2 unto the Children oflfrael: Their fir on g Holds wilt thou fet on fire $ their young Men wilt thou flay with the Sword $ and rip up their Women with Child .] This la ft exprefles the higheft Degree of barbarous Cruelty 5 for which there was no occafion, if he did but kill the Women with Child, for the Child in the Womb would die with them, without ripping them up. Therefore a late Learned Man looking on this as a thing unheard of, will have the word Haroth not to fignify Women with Child, but Caftles or fortified Places which he fliould demoli(h. Though he can- not but acknowledge, that the cutting up Women, very naturally follows flaying their young Men, and dajhing their Children, which goes juft before. And he fhould have taken notice, that the very firft Evil he mentions, that Hazael mould do to them, isfetting their ftrong Holds en fire. Gouffet Comment. Lingu ferves. See Chap. 2. of the firft Book of the Kingr^ V. 12. Vcrfc 18. Ver. 18. And he walked in the *v>a) of the Kings of Ifrael, as did the Houfe of Ahal : For the Daughter of Ahab VPAS hff Wife^} Viz. Athaliah, v. .26. And he did Evil in the Sight of the LORD.'] Being feduced by his Wife, to forfake the Religion of his pious Father and Grandfather. Thus Ahab himfelf was led to the Worfhip of Baal by his Wife Jeztbel. So dangerous it is, to marry with Idolaters : For this Wifeof Jehoram, in all likelihood, was the Author of that cruel Policy of murdering all his Brethren, for fear .they fbould difturb him in his Kingdom, 2 Chron. XXI. 2, 3, 4. Verfe 19. Ver. 19. Tet the LORD would not deftroy Juclah, for David his Servant's fdke.~~\ Though he punifhed them feverely (See 2 Chron. XXI. 1.4, 15, .16,17,80:.) yet he would not cut them all off; but had Patience with them a long time : Upon the account of thu excel- lent Servant of his King David ^ unto whom he had made a Promife, as it here follows, and to his Seed after him of a perpetual Kingdom. As he yromifed him^ to give him always a Light, and 49 bit Children.'] A Succeflion in this Dignity (as I have the Second B&ol^of KINGS. 415 have expounded it before) which was compleateci in Chapter the MESSIAH, whofe Kingdom (hall have no end. VIII. Ver. 20. In his days Edom revolted from tinder the L/*V"VJ hand ofjudah, and made a King over themfelves^] Af- ter they had been Tub jeft to Judah an hundred and fifty Years ^ ever fince the time of David, who fub* dued that Country. This was a great Difhonour to him $ but by this means the Prophecy of Ifaac was fulfilled, XXVII. Gen. 40. Ver. 21. So Joram went over to Zair.~] This word Verfe 21* Zair is written differently from Seir $ and therefore doth not fignify any part of the Country of Edom : But fome City near to it. And all the Chariots with him.'} With as great a force as he could raife, to reduce them to Obedience. And rofe by Night> and faote the Edomites 5 which compajjed him alont.~] The Ed&mites were not want- ing in their own Defence, but had furrounded him with an Army: Through which he broke in the Night, and routed them. And the Captains of the Chariot /, and the People fled into their Tents I] To their own Camp.- Where, it is likely, they were intrenched. Ver. 22. Yet Edam-revolted from under the hand 0/ Verfe 2 a, Judahl} Notwithftanding this Victory, they could not recover their Dominion over this Country : But Edom continued a Kingdom under its own King. Unto thtf Day.'] When this Book was written., which was not long after this rxevolr. And they were not brought again under the Power "of the Jews, till after the Captivity of Babylon : W\\znHyrcanw the Son of Simon conquered them, and they received Circumcifion 5 and came to have a free Commerce with the Jews. Infomuch that Herod the Son of An* tipater, who was an Edomite obtained the Kingdom 4 i6 X COMMENTARY upon Chapter of Judtca : And indeavoured to pafs for a Jen>, be- VIII. caufe they had received Circumcition under Hyr~ L/^V^w canus. Then Libnah revolted at the fame time.'] Which was the reafon perhaps, Why he could not purfue hisVi- #ory over the Edomites, and regain their Country : Becaufe he had enough to do at home ; there being a Defection of his own Subjefts,,from him. For this was a confiderable City in the Tribe of 'judah, XV. JoJI). 41. and belonged to the Priefts, XXI. jF^. 13. Which Example, it is likely, other Neighbouring. Cities followed. For the Keafon why they revolted, was becaufe he attempted to fet up his idoUtrous Worfhip among them : Contrary to the Law of God, and of the Kingdom. See 2 Chron. XXI. 10, n. Ver. 23. And the reft of the Afls of J or am ^ and all that he did, are they not written in the Book^ofthe Chro- nicles of the Kings ofjudah.] See i Kings XI. 41. Vcrfc 24. Ver. 24. And Jorantjlept with his Fathers, and was bnried with his Fathers in the City of David."] But not in the Sepulchre of the Kings, as we read, 2 Ckron* XXI. 20. // And Ahaziah his Son reigned in his ftead. Verfe 25, Ver. 15. In the twelfth Tear of Joram the Son ofAhab did Ahaziah Sonofjehoram King of Judah begin tt reign.'] In the Conclufion of the Eleventh, and begin- ning of the Twelfth : As appears from IX. 29. Vcrfc 26. Ver. 26. Twenty two Tears old was Ahazrah when he began to reign, and he reigned one Tear in Jerufaleat."] But in the 2 Chron. XXII. i. it is faid he was forty two Years old when he began to reign : Which feeraing Contradi&ion was anciently folved in this manner (by the Author of Seder Qlam Rabba, whom a great many Jewi/I) and Chriftian Writers follow) that the forty two Years mentioned in the Book of Chro- nickf, the Second Bool^ of KIN G S. 417 nicies i are not to be computed from the Birth of Aha* Chapter ziah, but from the time of the Decree of cutting off VIII. the Houfe of Omri : Which was in the thirty fir ft s^v"^ . Year of Afa^ when Omn began to reign, to reign fix Years, and after him Ahab twenty and two : And AhazJah his Son two Years, and Joram twelve : All which put together, make forty two Years. This Dr. Lightfoot hath exprefled more plainly thus $ ' The * forty two Years have not Relation to the Age of * Ahaziah, but to the Kingdom of the Houfe o(0m- c ri. And therefore the words of the Original are 4 not to be tranflated, AhazUh was forty two Tears 4 old^ but Ahaziah was the Son of forty two Years, as 4 Seder Olam tranflates it. And the reaion why his 4 Reign is thus differently fet down from all other 6 Kings of Judah is, becaufe he was a Branch of the * Houfe of Omri by his Mother's fide, v. 18. and * therefore was fit to be reckoned not by the Line of 4 the Rings of Judah, but by the Houfe of Omri and 4 Ahab. But there is an eafier and more likely Re- conciliation of thefe two places, by Klmcht^ Abar- binel, and others, which is, that Joram being invaded by the Arabians, and alfo diieafed, made his Son A- haziah King, together with himfejf, when he was twenty two Years old. In this Condition things remain- ed twenty Years, and then his Father dying'they made him King alone, when he was forty two Years old. Thus a great number of Chriftian Interpreters alfo underftand it. But then they fuppofe that Jehoram being thirty two Years old when he began to reign, reigned eight Years (as it is faid, v. 17.) after his Father's Death, that is, happily and proiperou(]y 5 but after that, falling into the hands of the Arabians^ and growing fickly, he reigned inglorioufly-twenty Years, till he was fixty Years old, his Son admini- H h h firing -" 4 i8 . A COMMENTARY *pon Chapter ftring Affairs all this time for him.- But fince the VIIL LXX. in the Book of Chronicles read not forty two, U^/"Vf but twenty, many learned and good Men think, the ancient Hebrew Copies agreed thereunto '.- But by the Carelefnefs of Tranfcribers, forty came in inftead of twenty. Which it is better they think to acknow- ledge plainly, than to ufe forced and conftrained Interpretations, as the preceding feem to- them to be. Perfaoniift hath lately centered them all, in tbefe words, Si quid ego video aut intel/igo, multo reftiut divinitati & autoritati Scripture confulant^ qui vi- tium iftic librariorum in re per ft levi agnofcuut, quant qui difficult ate m volunt toUere, contortif, violentif & abfonjf Jnterpretationibti* ; qu ab ipfa. Scrtytura locu- tione^ & clarijjlnta Syntax* longrjfime recedunt^ &c. And then inftances in this very place, and the fore- going Expofitions of it Prtfat. in JElian. Far. Hi- ftor. **** z. And his Mother s Name was Athaliah the Daughter of Ontri) King of Ifrael.} So (he is called al(o in 2 C/>r0.XXlI.2. that is, Omri's Grand-daughter^ who are often called Daughters, as I have before obferved. For it is certain Athaliah was the Daughter of Ahab : But perhaps educated by Omri his Father^ and upon that account may be called his Daughter. He was the youngeft San ofjehoram, all whofe other Chil- dren, and his Wives were carried away by the Phi- liftines and Arabians, when they made an Inrode up- on Judah, i Chron. XXI. 16, 17. where he is called Jehoahaz. Verfc 27. Ver. 27. And he walked in the way of the Houfe of Ahab^ and did evil in the Jight of the LORD, at did the Houfe of Ahab.'] Not only worlhipped the Calves, but alfo Qaal. For tie Second B^of KINGS. 4 19 For he was the Son in law of the Hottfe ofAhab."] And Chapter fo corrupted in his Religion, by the Affinity he made Vl{{. with that wicked Family. Into which Je/w/hap hat U^Wi married his Son, hoping, perhaps, to unite thereby the two Kingdoms again : But it proved the Ruin of his Family $ as appears by the Book of Chro- nicles. Ver. 28. And he went with Joram the Son ofAhabto Verfe 28. the War, againft Hazael King of Syria in Ramoth- Gilead.'] Juft as Jehofiaphat went with Ahab to the fame place . Which Joram it feems indeavoured to recover to Ifrael, as his Father had done. And the Syrians wounded Joraw,~] Not mortally, as they did Ahab : But fo, that he was fain to leave the Field to be cured of his Wounds in JezreeL Ver. 29. And King Joram went backet o be healed in Verfe 29. Jezreel of the Wounds the Syrians had given him in Rawah, when he fought againfl Hazael King of Syria.'] Leaving his Army at Ramoth- Gilead. And Ahaziah the Son ofjehoram King of Judith, went down to fee Joram the Son of Ahab in Jezreel, becaufc he was fick^] By this means the fecret Providence of God fo ordered it* -that they were both killed by Jehu, as a Punifhment of their Idolatry. Chapter CHAP. IX. IX. Verfe i. A ND Elr/ha the Prophet called one of the Ji\ Sons of the Prophets."] The Prophet//* jah was commanded to do this which Eliflxi was now about to by his Word, but by this folemn Rite conftituted him King of Ifrael. Then open the Door, and flee, and tarry not. ~\ Left by any means what he had done (hould be difcover- ed$ and they might lay hold on him, as a Trai- tor. Ver. 4. So the young Man, even the young Man the Verfe 4, Prophet, went to Ramoth-Gilead.~\ This argued a great Faith in this young Prophet, that he undertook fo readily the Execution of this Command. For there was no fmall danger to anoint a new King; as Eli- Jha himfelf plainly fuggefts v when he bad him flee away, as faft as he could, as foon as he had done. Ver. 5. And when he came, the Captains o were fitting.] In Council, I fuppofe, how to carry on the War, or about fome other Bufinefs- Though fome fancy, they were at Dinner. And he faid, I have an Errand to tiee,- Cap~ tain.] Looking upon Jehu. And Jehu f aid, unto which ofafftff? and he f aid un- to thee, Captain."] This (hows that Jthu was the Head of them, who askt the Queftion in the Name of the reft. Ver. 6. And he arofe and went into the Houfe.'} Into y er f e a private Room, v. 2. And he poured the Oyl on hrf Head, and f aid unto him.~\ The Oyl being poured on his Head, the Jews fay he anointed him with it (as the manner was) in the form of a Crown : In token that he was the Head of the People, and had the fupream Power, over them, committed to him*. A COM MEN T A K Y n Chapter Thus faith the LORD God of Jfrael, 1 have anrinted IX. thee King over the People of the LORD, even over If- ing, thtff faith the LORD, I have anointed thee King over Ifrael.'] It is likely the Spirit of Courage, as well of Prudence entred into Je/jtt, when he was a- nointed, fo that he took heart to tell them boldly what the Prophet had faid. And the Oyl perhaps, was ftill frcfh upon his Head, wherewith he anointedi him, which he fhowed to them. Ver. A Chapter Ver. 1 3. And they hafted.~] God alfo moved the IX. Hearts of all the Captains, immediately, without L/^VX; any Confultation, to acknowledge him for their Verfe 13. King. And took every Matt his Garment and put it under hittt.~] They made a kind of Throne of their very Garments, and raUed him up above the reft of the Company. Upon the top of the Stairs."] They did not ftay till they came down into the Street, but forthwith, upon the very top of the Stairs of the place where they were fitting, acknowledged him for their Soveraign : By fpreading their Garments under his Feet, to tread upon. So de Dieu underftands the words. There is a late Author, who guefies thefe were winding Stairs in a Turret, on the top of which Tower they placed Jehu, that all the People might fee him, and hear him proclaimed their King. Goujjet in his Com- ment. Lingua Hebraic^, p. 173. And blew with the Trumpet faying, Jehu is King?] They proclaimed him to be appointed by God to be King of Ifrael : Which ufed to be done, with the Sound of the Trumpet, i Kings 1. 31. Verfe 14. Ver. 14. So Jehu the Son of Jehofiaphat the Son of Nimfhi confpired againft Joraw.] Contrived, with the reft of the Captains that commanded the Army, how to deftroy Joraw. For which they had the fairer Op- portunity, becaufe he was gone from the Army to Jezreel, as it here follows. (Now J or a/a had kept Ratnoth Gilead, he and all lf- rael, becaufe ofHazael King of Syria?] That is, kept a ftrong Garrifon there, upon the Frontiers of his King- dom : And left his.Army aJfo thereabout (for they are meant by all Ifrael} for fear Hazael fbould make any new attempt to recover it. Ver. 15. the Second BooJ^ of K I N G S. 425 Ver. 15. But King Joram was returned to be keakd Chapter in Jezreel of the Woundf which the Syrians had given IX. him, when he fought with Hazael King ofSyria.~] This ^-'-v^*-*' was faid before, but here repeated, to (how how Je- Verfe 15, hu came to effect his Defign fo eafily. Which was becaufe Joram was abfent from his Army : Among whom if he had continued, it is likely fome of them, if not all, would have adhered to h;m, and fought for him. And Jehu faid, if it be your ntind~] If they were all agreed, that he (hould be their King. Then let none go forth, nor efcape out of the City."] This (hows that Ramoth-Gilead, was in the PorTeflion of the Ifradites. From whence, he would have none to be fent, nor fuffered to go forth, but the Gates be narrowly watched; To go to tell it in Jezreel.~] For he knew that Secre- cy and Speed were necefTary to the Execution of fuch great Defigns as he had in hand. Ver. 1 6. And Jehu rode in a Chariot, and went to Verfe 16. Jezreel (for Joram lay there) and Ahaziah King of Judah was come down to fee Jora,w.~] This is repeated, to (how that Joram continued at Jezreel, whither he went from Ramoth : And that Ahaziah, who came to vifit him, continued alfo with him. Ver. 1 7. And there flood a Watchman on the Towre Vcrfe 1 7- of Jezrtel.~] Thefe Watchmen feem to have been fet on high Places, in time of Peace, as well as War, whereibever the Ring was, that he might not be fur- prized. For David at Jerufalem was adaionimed by the Watchman that his Sons were iafe, when he fear- ed they had been loft, 2 Sam. XIII. 54. as afterward^ that News was coming from the Army that fought againft Abfalom, XVIII. 24, 25. I i i And A COMMENTARY upon Chapter -dnel hefpied the Company ofjehu, as they came, and IX. f*iA>> I fi e a Company.'} A Troop, or Squadron of Horfe, l*S\*\j as we now fpeak. And Joram faid, take an Horfeman, and fend to meet them^ and fay p , if it Peace ?~] He was afraid the Syrians had got the better of his Army 5 or fome more of his Subjects had revolted, as Libnah had done. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. So there went one on Horfelack^to meet him-^ and faid^ thus faith the King, if it Peace ?* and Jehu faid, what haft thou to do with Peace .? turn thee behind MS."] The MelTenger fpake in the Kings Name 5 but he fpake to a greater King, Who- bad him not to trouble hi mfelf about Peace, or War, but follow him. Which he durft not refufe, feeing fuch a Company of Soldiers with Jehu. And the Watchman faid^ the Mejjenger came to them, but he eometh not again.] Which put them in doubt, what to think. Verfe 19. Ver. 19. And he fent out a fie on d on Horfeback^^ which came unto them andfaid, thuffailh the King, it it Peace 2 And Jehn faid^ what haft thou to do with Peace? turn thee behind me.~] To the fame Queftion the fame Anfwer was returned ; that it did not con- cern him, whether they were Friends or Enemies : But his fafeft way was to follow Jehu. Verfe ^^ Ver. 20. And the Watchman told faying, he came even unto them, and cometh not again. And the dri- ving is likp tf }e driving of Jehu the Son of Nimjht.] Wfeo was his Grandfather, but a more eminent Per- fon, it is likely, than Jehofoafhat his Father , and fo he was commonly called his Son. For fa~t/rivethftiriou/ly.~] He was noted, it feems, for Fiercenefs, and Eagernefs in purfuing his Defigns, But the Chaldeo Paraphraft takes it quite otherwife, that- lie Second BQO^ of K I N G S. 447 that fo drove flowly $ as if he would intice Joram to Chapter come out of the City, and meet him : Having no IX. mi.nd to engage in an AiTault, or Siege of Jezreel. L/*V*VJ Ver. 21. And Jorantfaid, make ready ^ and his Cha- Verfe 21* riot was made ready. And Joraw* King of Jfrael, and Ahaziah King of Judah went out each in his Chariot $ and they went out again ft JehuT] Not to fight him, but to meet him before he came to the City, that if there was any Sedition he might compofe it by his Autho- rity: Or, perhaps in Honour of Jehu $ who he faw would deliver his News himfelf, and not intruft a Mefienger with it. And met him in the Portion of Naloth the Jezre elite.] By a fpecial Providence of God, which brought them together in that place. Ver. 22. Anditcametopafs, when Joram faw Jehu^ Verfe 22. that he faid, if it Peace, Jehu .reelite.~] Part of which Ahab had made a Gar- den 5 but the reft remained a Field. For remember how that when I and thou rode together after Ahab his Father.'] With the reft of his Guard, .when he went to take PofTeflion of Nabottis Vine- yard. Iti the Hebrew the words are exactly thus, n- tetber^ thou, and I were among thofe who rode two and two together after Ahab, Sec. That is, he was attended by his Guard, who were wont to ride in Pairs, two and two, and Jehu and Bidkar rode at that time together j and heard Elijah's words. The LORD laid this Burden upon him."] This Pu- nilhment, which is frequently by the Prophets called a Burden (XIII. Ifaiah i,6cc.) was denounced againft Ahah, and extended to his Son, i Kings XXI. 19. Where thefe very words are not recorded : But Elijah faid more than is there fet down, which Jehu well re- membred. V.er, 2.6.-. the Second Book, of K I N G S. Ver. 26. Surely, I have feen Tefterday the Blood ^/Chapter Naboth, and the Blood of hjf Sons, faid the LORD."] IX. Some think that Jezalel contrived the Death of Na- xx-v*-> both's Sons, together with their Father: That they Verfe 26. might lay no claim to the Pofleffion of their Father, But thefe words may fignify ne more (as Grotittf and others have obferved) than the Poverty to which they were reduced. For all Puniihments and Mife- ries are called Blood among the Hebrews (XVII. Le- vit. 4.) and to take away their Eftate, upon which they (hould have lived, was in efreft, to take away their Blood, in which is the Life of every Creature: As we fay now of grievous Oppreffors, that they fuck the Blood of others-: And commonly call them Blood' fuckers. And I will eeqttite it in this place faith the LORD. Now therefore take andcaft him into the plat of Ground^ according to the Word of the LORD.~] Without any Burial $ that, according to the Prophecy, he might be eaten by the Fowls of the Air, i Kings XXL 14. Ver. 27* Bat when Ahaziah King ofJudahfarvthjf^Vtite zjj he fled by the way of the Garden-houfe.] Which was built upon part of Nabeth's Vineyard. And Jehu followed after him^ and faid, finite him al- fo in the Chariot : and they did fo, at the going up to Gr, which is by Ibleam, and he fled- Jo Megiddo^] He could not get to his own Country, and fo (heltred himfelf at Megiddo^ which was not far from Sama- ria, Whkher his Servants carried Him, as a fafer place (for he wa6 not mortally wounded) and there he hid hfrnfelf for fear of Jehu* as vve read, iChron*, XXII. 9. And he died there.~\ Not at Megiddo, buc being < fearched for and taken in Sawaria, he was brought to- 430 A COMMENTS RY Jehu$t Jezreel, where he commanded him to be (lain, IX. Which feem to be beyond his Commiflion . But as he J**f\J was an Idolater, fo he was of the bloody Houfe of Ahab by his Mother's fide, who was Ahab's Daugh- ter, VIH. 1 8. And his Deftru&ion was of God (as the Author of the fecond Book of Chronicles obferves, XXII. 7.) who prompted Jehu thus to underftand his Command. Thus Abarbinel underftands thofe words, he died there. Not in Megiddo^ mentioned before, but in that Execution of God's Judgments on the Houfe of Ahab. Verfe 28. Ver. 2*8. And his Servants carried him m a Chariot to Jerufalew, and buried him in his Sepulchre with hif Fathers, .~] In the Hebrew it .is, fie put her Eyes in Paint ; that is, in Stibium, which made the Eyes look black, and was accounted beau- tiful : And alfo dilated the Eye-brows, and made the Eyes appear big^ which, in fome Countries, was alfo thought very amiable. See Grotius. This was not intended to tempt Jehu, with her Beauty : But to keep up her Dignity, and State to the very lad: For (he was extreamly proud. 'Vcrfe 31. ^ cr - 5 ! ^d as Jehu entred in at the Gate, Jliefaid, had Zimr* Peace, who flew his Mafter /] She thought perhaps he would not meddle with a Woman : And therefore took upon her to rebuke, and upbraid him with the Second Bool^of KINGS. 43 1 with what he had done againft her Son : Bidding Chapter him remember what became of Zimri^ who was cut JX. off by Owri her Father- in- Law, the Founder of A- tVVSJ ba&s Family. Ver. 31. And he lift up kit Face to the Window r , 2 Chrtn. XXV. 12. See Settett> Lib. I. deSynedriif^ Cap. V. p. 76, &c. Ver. 34. And when he was come />, he did eat and Verfe 24, drin^ and faid> go 9 fee now this curfedWoman^ and bury her."] That is, go and take care of her Body, to fee it decently buried. Forjhe is a Kings Daughter?] And was alfo the Wife, and the Mother of a King, which m^ved him to have this regard to her, as all Men naturally have- to Royal Dignity : Forgetting in the mean time, whati A C M U E N T A R T upon Chapter what Elijah had propheoied againft her in his hearing, IX. Which he might eafily do when he was merry, it is L/*W> like, with eating and drinking liberally. Verfc 35. Ver. $5. And they went out to bury her, hut they found no more of her, than the Skull, and the Feet, and the Palms of her hands.~] All the reft being eaten by the Dogs. For it is probable, when the Horfemen were gone, who trod her under foot, the Footmen ftript her, and left her naked in her own Blcod $ expofed to the hungry Dogs, that came out of the City and devoured her. Verfe 36. Ver. 36. Wherefore tley came again, and told him. And hefaid, thfc if the Word of the IOl as is ufual in Scripture : Though by feveral Wives, he might have as many Sons as Gi- deon had. In Samana.'] Unto which Place the Ruler ofjez- reel had carried them, when they heard how Jehu had killed Joram $ for fear they mould fall into his hands. Or, perhaps during the War with Syria, their Father had fent them thither, as a Place of Security (it being a ftrong City) in cafe of any ill Accident that might happen. And Jehu wrote Letters to Samaria, unto the Rulers ofjezreel.~] The chief Noble Men of the Kingdom, who, I fuppofe, were fled thither with the Kings Sons 5 And perhaps were met to deliberate what to do in this Jundture, whether or no to fet up one of Ahab's Sons to be their King. And to the Elders.] The principal Perfons in Sa- ntaria. And to thofe who brought p Ahab's Children^ faying."] Thefe are called Otttanin* (Nonrtjhers^ becaufe they had the Care of his Children from their Infancy, and were now their Governours, as we call them : Who were of his Kindred, v.n. Ver. i. Now asfoon as thit Letter cometh toyoH)fetingV&k 2. your Mafters Sons are with }OH % and there are with yon Chariot S) and Hwfes, a fenced City alfo^ and Armour. Kkk Ver. 3. 434 A COMMENTARY Chapter Ver. ? Look^even out the heft and meeteft of your X. Mafters Sons, andfet him on his Father's Throne, and LS^S**J fight for your Mafters Houfe.~] This he faid, becaufe Verfe 3. perhaps he heard they were confulting about a Sue- ceflbr to Ahab. Or rather he infults over them, and de- nounces War again ft them with Scorn and Derifion : Being fecure of the Event, that they were not able to oppofe him. Verfe 4. Ver. 4. But they were exceeding afraid, and faid r behold two Kings food not before hint^ how thenfliaUwe ft and ..) This is re- (-/'"W peated, to (how the vile Spirit of thele great Men . That could deftroy fo many Royal Perfons, of whom they had the Care, and who had offended no Body. Ver. 7. And it cametopafs, when the Letter came tv Verfe 7. them, that they took, the King's Sons, and flew feventy Perfons , and put their Heads in Basfyts.'] They feem not to have deliberated about the Matter, though in it felf fo horrid 5 but inftantly obeyed him. Andfent him them to Jezreel.~] Following after them- felves, as appears from v. n, expecting perhaps to be thankt for what they had fo readily done.- But quite contrary came to the fame miferable End. Ver. 8. And there came a Mcjjenger, and told him^ Verfe 8. faying, they have brought the Heads of the King's Sons.' and he f aid, lay ye them in two heaps, at the entring of the Gate, until the Morning^ The Gate was the Place of publick Concourfe for Judgment, and other Bufi- nefs: So that the laying them there, was to expofe them to publik View, that every one might know there was none of Ahab's Pofterity left to reign over them. Ver. 9. And it came to pafs in the Morning, that he Verfe 9. went out, and flood, and f aid to all the People."] Who were there gathered together, gazing upon this ama- zing Sight. Tebcrighteott*.'] Be not troubled : For none of you. are to blame in all this. Behold, I confpired againft my Mafter, and flew him 5 but who flew all thefe . Since he had Authority from God for what he did. K k k 2 Ver. 10. A COMMENTARY *pon Chapter Ver. *- Know now that there fial/ fall unto the X. Earth nothing of the Word of the LORD, which the t^VNJ LORD fpake concerning the Honfe of Ahab.] In thefe Verfe 10. words he throws all the Guilt from offhimfelf : Be- ing only God's Inftrument to puniih the Houfe of Ahab, as he had foretold by Elijah. And therefore he refolved to proceed, till he had utterly extirpated all that depended on him. For the LORD hath done.'] As if he had faid, This is not my doing, but the LOR D's : Whofe Command I obey. That which hefpake by his Servant Elijah?] He men- tions what he denounced, rather than what Elifba. commanded (X. 8.) becaufe the words of Elijah were publickly known : Whereas Etifha's were fpoken in private^ and not by himfelf, but by one of the Sons of the Prophets, IX. 7,8, 9. Verfe n. Ver. n. So Jehu flew all that remained of the Houft of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great Men.~] Whom he had advanced to great Offices, or Dignities. And his Kinsfolks.'] All that had any relation to him. And hit PrieflsJ] Who had ferved him in his ido* latrous Worfhip, and confirmed him in it. Until he left him none refnaining.~] In that place ; But there were ft ill forae left in Samaria, v. 17. Vcrfc I.*. Ver. 12. And he arofe and departed, and came to Sa* marial] Having finimed his Work in jFeasm/, he went to profecute it, in the chief City of rhe Kingdom: Which moft needed Reformation. And <# he was at the Sheering- fwttfe in the wayC\ In the Hebrew the words are, in the Houfe of the Shep- herds binding. For they bound the Feet of their Sheep, when they (heered them : And this was the place the Second Bool^ of KIN G S. 437- place where the Shepherds of Samaria were wont to Chapter do it. X. Ver. 13. Jehu met with the Brethren of Maziak, v-^v^^/ King ofjtidah, and fard, who are ye? And they an- Vcr ^ e 3 3 faered, toe are the Brethren ofAhaziah, and we are go- ing to faltite the Children of the King, and the Children of the Queen.] That is, the Children of Joram^ and the Children of Jezabel. But the Brethren of Ahaziah were carried Captive before this, as we read, 2 Chron. XXI. 1 7. therefore by Brethren we muft underftand his Brother's Sons, as it is explained in 2 Ghron* XXII. 8. Ver. 1 4. And he faid^ takg them alive, and they too\ Verfe thettty and he flew them at the Pit of the Sheering- houfe, even two and forty Men $ neither left fa any of them.~\ They were allied to the Family of Ahab by the Mo- ther's fide (VIII. 1 8.) and therefore bethought his Commtffion ("IX.S^J extended thus far: Being a- fraid alfo, it is likely, that they might, if they lived be avenged of him for the Death of Joram^ Ahaziah, Jeztbel, and thek Children whom they were going to fee. Ver. 15. And when he was departed thence, he //g/;Verfe nfon Jonadab the Sw ef Rechab^ coming to mett hitx.~] A very pious and prudent Perfon, as appears by his Precepts to his Sons in the XXXV. of Jeremiah. Whe hearing what Jehu had done, came, I fuppofe, to eongratulate with him hts Happinefs in fulfilling GodV Commands : And to incourage him in his Proceed- ings to deftroy Idolatry. Scal/ger indeed in his E- Itnch. Trih prove that this JonAdabvjzs not he that gave thofe Precepts to his Sons ; but another in the Days of Je- remiah :. For it is not likely he thinks, that a Mari < addicted tofuchaquiet Life^ as he inftkuted would 43 8 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter come to meet Jehu $ and therefore this was fome Mi- X, litary Perfon of great note, who Jehu thought might be ferviceable to him : But this is a weak Argument 3 for why might not Jonadab, though he loved Retire- ment, come to congratulate Jehus Zeal again ft Ido- latry, and Jehu be glad of fuch a Man's Company, whofe known Piety would gain him greater Refpeft, than the Attendance of any great Captain could pro- cure him. And he fainted Lim~] Some think, that Jonadab fa- luted Jehu, and fpake the words following. Bur it feems plain to me that they are words of Jehu, who faluted him, as foon as he faw him, and enquired of his Welfare. Andfaid, if thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?] The King profefied great Love to him, and askt him if he loved him as fincerely, And approved his A&ions, as he did Jonadab's Inftitutions. And Jonadab anfwered, it is.~\ The Expreffion .is double in the Hebrew, Yes, Tes, to fignify a vehe- ment Affection. Or, as a late Learned Writer (Gouffet in Yiis Comment. Hebr.Lingu8~ That is, all the Heads of them, who reprefented the reft. Andfaid unto them, Ahab firved Baal a little, but Jehu fiatt ferve him mttch.~] His Zeal for the LORD exceeded its bounds ^ for he ought not to have ta- ken any indirect Courfe to fulfil his Will : As he did in counterfeiting as much Zeal for Baal, as he pro- fefled to Jonadab he had for the LORD. God doth not ftand in need of any Man's Sin, to compafs his Ends.- But Jehu made bold to diflemble deeply for the Service of God 5 in which he cannot be exr cufed. Ver. 19. Now therefore call unto me all the Prophets ^ Verfe 13 of Baal, all his Servants, and all his Priefts 5 let none be wanting."] By &rt/<*;/f.rhedoth not here mean his Wor- (hippers : But being joyned wifch Prophets And Priefly, they (ignified fome that tninijind with the Priefts, in the. 44 o # C M ME NTARYnpo* Chapter the Worlhip of Baal: Like the Levites among the X. People of God. t^*W> For I have a great Sacrifice to do to Baal."] He might poflibly mean a Sacrifice not of Beafts, but of Men 5 even of all the Worthippers of Baal: But he intend- ed they mould underftand him otherwife, and there- fore thefe words were fpoken to deceive. Whofoever ffiall be wanting, he ft all not live."] He thought that fome, who confidered what Slaughter he had made of the Family of Ahab (who introdu- ced the WoruYip of Ba-al, whom he pretended more highly to honour than Ahab had done) might Cufpeft his Defign : And therefore he terrifies them with the Fear of Death, if they did not come to this great Sa- crifice. But Jehu did it infubtilty^ that he might deftroy the Werjhippers of BaalJ] By deftroying his Prophets, and Minifters, and Priefts^ who being all cut off his Worfhip would fall to the ground. But the next Verfes extend this further, to all the Worfhippers of Baaly in the whole Country. Verfe ao. Ver. 20. And Jehu f aid, proclaim afoleqtn Affkmbly for Baal, and they proclaimed /*.] The Jaft Day of the Feaft of Tabernacles, the great Day of the Feaft, is called by this Name of Ataarah : Which we tranflate ifohmn Affembly : When it was not lawful to do any fervile Work, but wholly attend to the Service of God, XXIII. Levit. 36. Such a Day he now caufed to be fanftified (as the word is in the Hebrew) for the Service of Baal. Ver,fc 21. Vcr. 21. And Jehu fent through all Ifrael.'] To give notice of this great Feaft : And to require every one, upon pain of Death, to be prefent at it. And all the Worflrippers of Baal came, and there was vat A Man left, that came not : and they came into the the Second Boo\ of K I N G S. 44 1 Hottfe of Bad > and the Houfe ef Baal was full, from Chapter one end to another."] If this be meant of the whole X. Number ofBaalites throughout the Kingdom, it feems v^v-s^ fcarce credible that the Temple of Baal fhould be fo large as to hold them all. But two things are to be conQdered, Ptrft, tfcat his Houfe or Temple compre- hended all the outward Courts of it (as it did at the Temple of Jerufalevi) which were very fpacious. And Secondly, the Number of his Wor (nippers was much diminished fince the Death of Ahab : For Je- horam his Succeflbr had no great Kindnefs for the Worfhip of Baal (III. 2.) and Men are apt to follow the Example of their King. Befides, it is likely, Ha- *ael King of Syria had deftroyed many of them, in his Wars with Ifrael. Ver. 22. And hefaid to him that was over theVeftry,V&k 32. bring forth Veftmentsfir all the Worfljippers of Baal, and they Brought them forth Veftments.'] By all the Worjhip- pers ofBaal^ are not meant all the People that came to worfhip him . But his Minifters and Priefts, who alone wore Veftments of a different kind from the reft of the People . And fo it was among the Jews, d all other Nations. Ver. 23. And Jehu went and Jonadab the Son of Re- Verfc 23. ab into the Houje of Baal, andfaid unto the Worftip- $ers of Ba/tl, fearch And look^ that there be here with \ yon none of the Servants of the LORD, but the Wor- ftippers of Baal only.~] He calls thofe that worfhipped ^ the Golden Calves, the Servants of the LORD : Be- caufe they worthipped the LORD by them, and ab- horred the Worftrip of BaaL- Whofe Sacrifice he pre- tended to fear might be profaned, if any Strangers (hould)be prefent at it. According to the common faying/among the Heathen, Procul procul efle pro* fani. \ Lll Ver. 24. A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Ver. 24. And when they went into offer Sacrifice^ X. and Burnt-offerings. ~\ When they had begun their fa- L*^Vf cred Offices. Verfe 24. He appointed fourfcort Men without, and faid^ if> any of the Men whom I have brought into yottr hand efiape, he that lets him go, hi* Lifejhall be for the Life of him."] This was but a fmall Number, for fuch an Execution. But, it is likely, though no more ap- peared, yet there were others ready at hand to {up- port them, if need was, in the Undertaking. Or ra- ther, thefe were fet at the feveral Gates of the out- ward Courts; that if any endeavoured to make an efcape, they might kill them. But the next Verfe feems to fignify there was a greater Body of Men, that went for that purpofe into the Temple. Ver. 25. And it came to pafs as fbon, as they had Kv i /. rr , r r / . i 't F made an end of ofertng the Burnt- offering, that Jehu faid to the Guard, and to the Captains!] Of thofe Troops that he had fet, to keep the Peace, as he pre- tended, and prevent all Difturbance. Go in and flay them : let none come forth : and they fmote them with the edge of the Sword 5 and the Guard and the Captains caft them out7\ There is nothing in the Hebrew that anfwers to the word them : Nor is it likely, that the Captains and Soldiers troubled them- felves to caft their Bodies out of the Temple : Where they were rather buried in its Ruines. But the meaning is, having done this Execution, the Guard and Captains rufhed out of the Temple in great hafte, and immediately ran to the City of the Houfe of Baal, as it here follows. Anckwent to the City of the Houfe of Baal'] That is, a Place nea r to Samaria, where Baal had another .Temple : W hich gave Name t6 the Place. Or ra- ther there were great Buildings adjoining to the Tern- pie the Second Boo\ of KINGS. 443 pie of Baal in Samaria, where the Prophets, and Chapter Priefts, and their Servants lived : Called a City, be- X. caufe they were fo large. CXVVi Ver. 26. And they brought forth the Images out of the Verfe 2 Houfe of Baal, and burnt thew.~] They worthipped fe- veral other leflfer Gods (whole Images they had in this Temple) together with the Supreme God, whom they called Baal$ as the others were called Baalim. So Serviuf writes upon the firft of .the Georgicfa, that ve- teri ritu, according to ancient Cuftom, after the Priefts had invoked the fpecial Gpds to whom the Sa- crifice was intended, generaliter omnia Numina invo- cabantur, all the Gods were invoked, left any of them fhould think themfelves neglefted. Ver. 27. And they brake down the Image of Baal, beit, from the Sins of Jeroboam the Son X. of Nebat, who tnade Ifrael to fin, Jehu departed not t^^/^j from them . To wit, the golden Calves that were in Be- Verfe 29. thel and in Dan] Which he ftill worfhipped} being afraid, as his Predeceflbrs were, that if he took them away, as he had done Baal, the People would return to the Houfe of David. For which reafon all the following Rings of Ifrael continued this falfe VVor- (hip, till their Captivity 3 when thefe Calves were carried away with them. S0 they fay in Seder Olam Rabba, Cap. XXII. In the twentieth Tear ofPekah came Tiglath-pilefer, and took, away the golden Calf that wot in F-an, and departed 5 which they endeavour to prove out of 2 Chron. XXVIII. 20, 11. And a little after, in the twelfth Tear ofAhaz the LORDftirred up the Spirit of the King of Affyria., and he carried away the golden Calf in Bethel^ and departed : Fulfilling what if written, X. Hofea 6. Verfc 30. Ver. 3- And the LORDfaid unto Jehu7\ By force Prophet } either Elifha ; or the young Man that was fent to anoint Jehn $ or fome other. Becattfe thon haft done well in executing that which if } right in mine Eyes, and haft done unto the Houfe of A- hab, according to all that was in mine heart, thy Chil- dren of the fourth Generation Jhal/J/t on the Throne of Ifrael^] His partial Obedience was not without its Reward : Which had been greater if he had been as zealous in all things, as he was in this one Inftance : The following Hiffory (hows the Truth of this Pre- diftion : The Kingdom continuing in his Pofterity, till the Days QiZachariah, who was the fourth from Jehu (XV.' 8.) and reigned only fo long, as to make good this Prophecy. Vcrfe 31. Ver.3i. Bnt Jehu took no care to walt^in the Law 9f the LORD God oflfratlwith all his heart : For he departed the Second Bool^ of KINGS. departed not fro vt the fins of Jeroboam, which made If- Chapter rael to fin.~] This Admonition from God (which fuffi- X. ciently (bowed he was not well plea fed with) did him no good : But Policy prevailed againft Religion, and perfwaded him to continue the old Idolatry, when he had deftroyed the new. Ver. 2,2. In thofe Days tfo LORD began to cut If- Verfe raeljhort, and Hazaelfmote them in all the Coafts of Ifrael.] He took feveral of their Frontier Towns, I fuppofe, and thereby opened a way to make great Ravages in their Country. For though Jehu was a valiant Man, yet God did not profper him, becaufe he was not a fincere Servant of his. Ver. 33. From Jordan Eaftward^ all the Land 0/Verfe 22. Gilead, the Gadites^ the Reubenites, and the Manaf- Jttes : From Aroer (which is by the River Arnon) even Gilead and B*fian.~] This fully explains what was faid in the foregoing Verfe, that God cut them/hsrt. For Hazael took all their Country beyond Jordan : The whole Kingdoms which the Ifraelites took from Sihon and Og. Thus thefe Countries which the Ifra- elites firft conquered, were the firft that they loft. Ver. 3$^ffinF-tt>e reft of the Acls of Jehu, and a Tl Verfe 54, that he did, and all his Might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah ] Which was extant in thofe Days when this was writ- ten , and related his Hiftory more at large : Of which this is a brief Abridgment. Ver. 35. And Jehuflept with his Fathers, and they Verfe 35. buried him in Sawaria, and Jekoahaz his Son reigned in hisftead. Ver. 36. And the time that Jehu reigned over Ifrael t Verfe 26, was twenty and eight Tear si} Longer than any of the Sjags of Ifrael his Predeceffors. CHAP, 446 -A COM MEN 'TAR Y ufon Ch $ Kr CHAP. XI. - Verfe i. Verfe I. A ND when Athaliah^ the Mother ofAh xV faa> that her Son WAS dead, fie arofe and, deftroyed all the Seed Royal."] There were many of them cut off by Jehu, as we read in the foregoing Chapter. ; and not a few by others, 2 Chron. XXI. 4. XXII. i. but now their Deftruftion was compleated by Athaliah. Who, as (he was ambitious of Govern- ment, fo {he was enraged to fee Ahab's Family cut off 5 and therefore refolved to do as much by the Houfe of David. And perhaps (he was afraid Jehu (hould come and kill her, becaufe the was of the Houfe of Ahab; and therefore indeavoured to ftrengthen her felf, by getting into the Throne .- Which (lie could not compafs, without the Deftruftion of the Royal Family. For (he was a wicked Woman , as (he is elfe- where called ^ and had played the Harlot with ano- ther Man, by whom (he had Children : As the Jew- ijb Do&ors gather from, 2 Chron. XXIV. 7. \Vcrfc i. Ver. 2. But Jehofieba. the Daughter of King J0raw.~] Not by Athaliah, but by another Wife. For Athaliah would not have fuffered her Daughter to be married to the High Prieft, nor would he (in all likelihood) have married the Daughter of fuch a Woman. Sifter of Ahaziah.'] By the Father's fide. T004 Joa/b the Son of Ahaziah, And ftole him away from the Kings Sons that mre Jlain\] Some think that he was thrown among them, and thought to be dead 5 but (he fnatcht him away, and brought him to Life. , as P. Martyr undcrftands it, his Nurfe threw hfm the Second BooT^of KINGS. ,47 * him among the (lain on purpofe to fave his Life, and Chapter came afterward and ftole him away. But the plain XI. meaning feems to be, that they being all ordered to U*V\J be (lain, (he fecretly ftole him away and preferved him. And they hid hlm^ That is, (he and her Husband Jehojada the High Prieft, to who (he was married, iChron. XXII. ii. And hie Nttrfe in the Bed-chamber from Athaliah, Jo that he WM not Jlain.~] It appears by the next Verfe, that this Bed-chamber was in the Houfe of the LORD 5 .; that is, the Temple. Which doth not in the Scrip- ture always fignify the San&uary $ but in a larger Senfe comprehends all the Courts belonging to it. So Kimchi obferves, that (he whole Mountain of the Hottfi, is tailed the Houfe of the LORD. And this Chamber here fpoken of was in the outward Court of all, cal- led by Jofephvf Tf TW fe^X thefrfl holy Place. For in the inner Court no Body lay, nor might any Wo- man come into it. See L Ewpereur upon Codex Mid- dot h. Cap 2. Seft. 3. Ver. 5. And he was with her in -the Houfe of the Verfe 3. ? LORD fix Tears.'] The Minifters of God were fo true to Jehojada, that he lay thusundifcovered. And Athaliah did reign over the Land."] Not de Jurt (as the Lawyers fpcak) butdefa&o. For if we may believe the Jews, it was not lawful for a Woman to > reign over them. So Maimonides in the Treatife Me- lachim^ they do not place a Waman on the Throng be- c/tttfe it iffaid, XVII. Deut. 15. IfthouwiltfetA King : over thee, and not a Qtteen. Andfo in all the Prefe- tfttres in Ifrael, they place none but Men. She being therefore an Ufurper, it may feem ftrange (he held the Throfie fo long as fix Years, againft the Confti- tudon-of the Kingdom. . But in after Ages there is A COMMENT ART npon Chapter an Example of one that held it longer. For Alexan- XI. dra the Widow of JannCourt of the LORD'S Houfe. Ver. 8. And ye foall cowpafs the King round, d0#f,Verfe 8. every Man with his Weapons in his hand } and he that cometh within the ranges, he foal! be flain.~\ By the ranges, is to be Underftood, if not the Ranks of Men, that ftood about the Mountain of the Houfe of the LORD, the Ranks of Trees that grew on either fide of the Caufey, or the Rails that were fet on either fide of it, for the Stay and Safety of thofe that pafled upon it. See Dr. Lightfoot in the fame place. And be ye with the King, as he goeth out, and as he cometh in.~] When he went out to walk, or do any other thing : And when he returned to his Apart- ment. M m m 2 Ver. 9. A COMMENTARY ufm Chapter Vcr. 9. And the Captains of hundreds , ^/W according XI. /0 <*# ?wl Jehojada commanded, and they took, every trf^'V'VJ Man htf Men, that were to come in on the Sabbath $ with thofe that Jhould go out on the Sabbath : And came to Jehojada the Prieft.~] To (how that they were all difpoied according to his Order. Verfe 10. Ver. 10. And to the Captains of the hundreds did the Prreft give King David's Spears and Shields that were in the Houfe of the LORD '.] They did not come arm- ed into the Temple, left they (hould give any Sufpi- cion : But Jehojada furnilhed them with fuch Wea- pons as the Temple afforded. Particularly wirh the Spears and Shields, which Ring David had wfed, and dedicated after all his Wars, as Monuments of God's Goodnefs to him: And perhaps feveral Spears and Shields of great Men, which he had taken as Spoils in his Wars. Verfe n. ^ er> IX< ^nd the Guard flood every Man with hjf Weapon in hff hand^ round about the King , from the right corner of the Temple , to the left corner of the Tem- ple^ along by the Altar and the Templet] The Guard within the Court mentioned v. 7. ftood from the South part of the Temple toward the Palace, to the North part of it, where the King lay hid } about the great Altar of Burnt-offering ( which was at the Eaft- gatej and the Sanctuary,- and then the King was brought forth, and placed below the Altar, that all might fee him. Verfe 12 Ver. 12. And he brought out the Kings Son, and put the Crown upon Inm^ and gave him the Teftimony, and they made hint King^ and anointed him."] Having pro- duced Joafl), he put the Crown on his Head f which I fuppofe, was kept in tht Sanctuary) and then put the Book of the Law into his hand, according to XVII. Deut. 18, 1 9. "which is called the Teftimony^ becaufe the Second BooJ^of KINGS. becaufe God therein teftified what he would have the Chapter King, and them all do. And thereupon he declared XL him to be King of Ifwel; and then anointed him : L/"VSJ Which it was not neceflary to do (and therefore he is faid to be tnade King before it was done) being the Son of a King $ had not Athaliah difturbed the Succeffion, and pretended to the Kingdom. Therefore to fettle all things, he was anointed as Solomon^ and Jehu were. But there is a doubt what is meant by Eduth, which we tranflate Tcftimony $ fuppofing it comes from the Root, which fignifies to tejlify. But there are thofe, particularly Forfterta, Avenariw^ and others of greater note who derive it from the Hebrew word Adah, which fignifies to doth, put 0, and 4- dorn : And fo take Eduth for.fome Royal Ornament, which was a Mark of Kingly Dignity : And that it is probable might be a Bracelet which Jehojada put upon the young King, together with the Crown. This Conjecture is countenanced by what was read of the Amalekjte, who brought the Bracelet on Saul's Arm to David, as well as the Crown that was on his Head. See Fortttnatttf Scacchvs Myrothec. III. Cap. XLI. And they clapt their bands and faid, God fave the King.'] The Guards and the People (as the next Verfe explains it) teftified their Joy, by clapping their hands and (homing, as they did at KingSolomons Co- ronation, I Kings I. 34. 39. For clapping of hands was a token of Joy, as appears by many places, XLVII. pfaL i.LV.Ifa. 12. Ver. 13. And when Athaliah heard thenotfeofthey^fe .^ Guards^ and of the People. ~\ Who were now aifernbled to fee their King. She came to the People into the Temple of the LORD."} Into the outward Court, where they were met toge- ther A COM MENT4R T upon Chapter ther. And (he feems in a great Fright to have come XI. alone, or but few Attendants with her. V - /"V"SJ Ver. 14. And when foe looked, behold^ the King Verfe 14 flood by a Pillar, as the manner WM.~] Some of thejerr.f, and many great Men among Chriftian Writers, understand by this Pillar, the brazen Scaffold, which Solomon erected at the Dedication of the Temple, 2 Chron. VI. 13. But the plaineft meaning feems to me, that he ftood by the Poft of the Eaft-gate in the inner Court, where the Station of the King was. Which Vitringa hath made probable (in his Synagoga. Vet. p. 31, &c.J where he obferves, that the King alone entred at the Eaft-gate on the Sabbath, and the new Moons : But on other Days at the South or North-gate, where the People entred $ Which he gathers from XL VI. Ezek. 1,2. \\zftood, I fuppofe only, to be better feen by the People.- Other wife fitting was a Pofture of Authority. And the Princet and the Trumpeters by the King, and all the People of the Land rejoyced, and blew with TrHWpets.~] This made her foon apprehend the danger (he was in, as it here follows. For the People when they faw their young King, exprefled their Joy, it is likely, in fome fuch Acclamations as the People of Rome made at the Inauguration of Claudius, Claudi JiUgufte, Principew te, ant qualis tu es femper Oftavia- *fif, te refpnblica requirebat, tufrater, tu Pater, tu Ann- cut, tu bonus Senator, tu vere Princeps, as TrebeL Pol- lio relates in his Life. For though Joajh had done nothing praife-worthy, being but a Child ^ yet they rejoyced in the Felicity which they promifed them- felves in his Reign, under the Government of fuch a Man as Jehojada. And the Second Bool^ of K I N G S. An} Athaliah rent her Clothes, and cried, Treafon, Chapter Treafon."} Adding, as Jofephw relates, take that Boy XI. and kill him: Meaning Joafl^ in whofe Behalf this Confpiracy, as (he called it, was made againft her. But (he (pake like a diftrafted Woman, there being no body on her fide, to execute any of her Com- mands. Ver. 15. And Jehojada the Prkfl commanded Captains of hundreds, and the Officers of the Hoftf and fuid unto them, have her without the Ranges."] Through which they had futfered her to come, being a Queen > contrary to the Order, v. 8. And him that followeth her, k^tt with the Sword."] If any body appeared to abet and refcue her, he. con> manded him to be (lain. For the Prieft had fold; let her not beflain in the Houfe of the LORD.'] From whence they dragged her, till they had brought her down to the Bottom of the Cau- fey, and there they flew her. Ver. 1 6. And they laid hands on her, and /be went Ver fe ly the way, which tie Horfes came into the Kings Hottfe, andthsrefiewasflain] That is, faith the fame Author (Chap. V. Se&. 2. of the Temple) they got her out of. the Mountain of the Houfe, and brought her down the Caufey: And when (he came near the Horfe-gate, through which the Horfes went up out of the Stables- of Millo, when the Ring had occafion for them, ttere they (lew her. By which the Horfes came into the King's Houfe, T] There was another Horfe-gate, in the main Wall of the City, XXXT. Jeretv. % t a Chrvn. XXIIL if, So it (hould be rendred, rather thaaT 456 A COMMENT ART upon Chapter than by the Kings Houfe : For neither of thefe Gate*, XL were near his Houfe, but at a diftance from it.- And i^VXJ we may call this Gate here fpoken of, the back way to the King's Houfe at the Stable-gate. Verfe 17. Ver. 17. And Jchojada wade a Covenant between the LORD, and the King, and the People: That they jhould be the LORD's People.'] He fir ft takes care about Religion, and engaged them in a folemn Covenant to ^ root out Idolatry : And to reftore the true WorQiip of God, and continue in it. Between the King alfo and the People."] That they fliould be his obedient Subjects, and he mould go- ver them by the Law. This was directly agreeable to the Apoftolical Precept. Fear God, and honour the King. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And all the People of the Land went to the Houfe of Baal, and brake it down 5 hi* Altars and his Images brake they '* pieces thoroughly^] Accordingly they began immediately to make good their Covenant, in deftroying the Worfhip of Baal. Which had been introduced among the People of Judah by Jehorart* VIII. 1 8. and was continued by Ahatiah, v. 27. And flew Mattan the Prieft of Baal before the Altar."] To which it is poffible he fled, as a Place of Refuge : Or they drag'd him hither to make him a Victim to his God. And the Pr/eft appointed Officers over the Houfe of the LORD.~] Levites to keep the Door : Left any one who was unclean (hould enter into it. See more, iChron. XXIU. 18,19. Verfe 19. Ver. 19. And he too\ the Rukrs aper hundreds, and the Captains, and the Guards, and the People of the Land.] Brought them out of the Temple, that they might conduct the King to his Palace, as it here follows. And the Second Book, BRINGS. 467 And they brought down the King from the Hffufe ^/Chapter the LORD, and came by the way of the Gate of the XI. "Guard to the Kings H&ttJeJ] By that Gate of the King's \^*\s*^ Palace, where a Guard was to be kept for his Safety. And he fat on the Throne of the Kings."] Which was the Accomplimraent of his Inauguration. Ver. 20. And all the People of the Land rejoyced."] Verfe 20. Applauding what Jehojzda had done. And the City wf in quiet. ~\ Nobody appeared in Defence of Athaliah. And they flew Athaliah with the Sword^ befdet the Kings Houfe.~\ Not far from it : The People having fo little Kindnefs for her, that they fuffered her to be flain without any Oppofition. In the Chronicles indeed the words are, the City was in quiet after that they had flain Athaliah, 2 Ckron. XXII I. n. Which may import there was fome buftle before, when (he was apprehended But after her Death there was no ftir. Nor do we read they were fo much concerned for her, as to bury her. Ver. 21. Seven Tears old was Jehoa[h when he &*# Verfe 21. to reign.~] Being fo very young he was very unfit for fo weighty a Charge : But he was under the Direction of fo excellent a Counfellor, that while Jehojada li- red, all things went well, and the Nation was very happy, as we read in the next Chapter. But that good Man being dead, he was feduced by fome great Men about him to Idolatry, 2 Chron. XXIV. 17, &c. Which (hows him to have been a weak Prince, wh* wanted Judgment in things of gmteft Moment. Nnn CHAP. A COMMENTARY upon C ft er CHAP. XII. Verfe i. Verfe i.TN the feventh Tear of Jehu, Jehoajh began J. to reign, and forty Tears he reigned in Je- rttfalem : And his Mothers Name was Zibiah of Beer- ffieba. Vcrfc i. Ver. 2. And Jehoafo did that which was right in the fight of the the LORD, all hit days wherein Jehojada the Prieft inftrutted hint."} This Hiftory (hows of what Advantage it is, to have good Inftru&ors, and Coun- fellors about a King. For Jehojadaprefcrved Joa/h in good ways while he lived : But when he was dead, Joajh changed his Manners 5 and was perfwaded by the Flatteries of fome of his Courtiers to fall into Idolatry ^ and he killed the Son of this pieus Jeho- jada, who reproved him for it, a Chron. XXIV. 17, 21. Verfe 3, Ver. 3. But the high Places were not taken away^ the People fti Iff acrificed and burnt Incenfe in the high Pla- ces.'] Thefe private Altars {on which they facrificed to the true God) I obferved before were not remo- ved by the beft of their Kings, till the Reign of He- zekiah- And this King was too young, and his Au- thority too weak (though he had Jehojada to a (lift him) to attempt to break fuch a long continued Cu- ftora : Efpecially when fome of the Princes in their Hearts were Idolaters. Verfe 4, Ver. 4. And Joafhfaid unto the Priefts.'] TheHoufe of God being fuffered to run to decay, in the time ofAthaliah, and her Sou 5 Joafi in Gratitude to God who had preferved him there, refolved to have it repaired $ the Second EQO\ BRINGS. repaired $ and in order to it commanded what Mo- Chapter ney fhould be fet apart, for that purpofe. XII. All the Money of the dedicated things that are brought into the Houfe of the LORD.'] That had been, or fhould hereafter be brought and dedicated to the Ser- vice of God, and of the Temple. Even the Money of every one that pajfleth the account."] This, and the following Money he commanded the Priefts and Levites to go through the Kingdom, and gather it for the repair of the Temple, as we are told 2 Chron. XXIV. 5. They were not to expect till the People mould bring it in, but go and gather it, eve* ' ry Man of his Acquaintance, where he knew it to be due. And fo the foregoing words are to be tranfla- ted, not that is br ought ^ but to be brought into the Houfe of the LORD. Which Money arofe three ways The frft is here mentioned, the Money of every one tbatpaffeth (for the words the account are not in the Hebrew) which feme underftand of the Offering, which pious People of other Nations made, who came to worfhip at Jerufalem^ i Kings VIII. 41. Or, rather of thofe who were come to twenty Years of Age, and being pad that, were to pay half a Shekel. This had been much neglected in the time of Atha- liah (as the Jewtfh Doctors think) but now being carefully gathered, there was enough to maintain the daily Sacrifice (which was fupported out of this Mo- ney) and to carry on alfo the Reparation of the Temple. Though Abarbinel thinks it was wholly applied to the Reparation: And the People volun- tarily offered for the maintaining of the daily Mor- ning and Evening Sacrifice. The Money that every Man if fet at.~] This was the fecond way : By the Money that every Man >who had vowed himfelf to God, was acl King of Syria, went up and fought againft Gath y and took^ //.] This was a City of the Philiftinet, but taken by King David, and added to the Dominion oflfrael (i Chron. XVIII. i. 2 Sam. VIII. i.) and now taken from them by ffazael. And Hazael fet his Face to go tip to Jerufale/n.'] Ha- ving made himl'elf Mafter of this Place, he plainly declared, by the Difpofition of his Affairs, that he in- tended to make an attempt upon Jerufalew. This fell out after 'jehonfh had forfaken God, and fall'n to Ido- latry: As appears by the Book of the Chronicles .- Where a much different Relation is made of the Ex- pedition of the Syrians. Infomuch that Abarbind thinks (which is approved by feveral Chriftian Wri- ters) there were two Expeditions. In the firft of which Hazafl came up in Perfon again ft them, as is here related } but they purchafed Peace of him. And then in the end of the Year, after they had killed Z*. charith the War was renewed : Though Hazael did not r thefeventh Year of Jehu (XII. i.) who reigned but twenty eight Years (X. 36.) from whence if {even Years be dedu&ed, there remains no more than one and twenty, not three and twenty Years, as is here laid. To which KJmchi and Air^Wanfwer ^ there werfc two incomplete Years > for when it is faid Joajk reigned in the feventh Year of Jehu, it muft be under- ftood of the beginning of his ieventh Year : Atid in like manner, when he fpeaks here of the three and twentieth Year of Joafk> itmuft be underftood of the beginning of the fame Year. And fo they are called three and twenty, when they were but one and twen- ty petfeft Years: But it is better to fay (as my Wor- thy Friend Dr. Alix thinks) that there was an Ivter- of A Year between the Death of Jehtt and the the Second Boo\ of K I N G S. 467 Ver. 2. And he did that which wot evil in the fight Chapter of the LORD, and followed the fins of Jeroboam^ who XIII. made Ifrael to fin : he departed not there from.~] Was L/"V"NJ not reclaimed by the fevere Pnnimments God infli- Verfe z. &ed on him. Ver. 3. And the Anger of the LORD was kindledVttfe 3. again ft Ifrael, and he delivered them into the hand of Haz,ael King of Syria, and Benhadad the Son of Ha- zael, all their Days."} The word their, is not in the Hebrew ; fo that it may be tranflated all his Days, as it is explained, v. 22. Ver. 4. And Jehoahaz, bef ought the LORD, and the Verfe 4, LORD hearkned unto him f] Not for his fake, but for the fake of the pious Anceftors of this People: With whom he had made a Covenant of great Mercy to be (bowed to their Pofterity $ which in their great Di- ftrefs he now afforded them.. See v. 13. For he faw the Opprelfion of Jfrael, becaufe the King of Syria opprejjed them.] Intending their utter Ruin, which God would not yet permit / But bear longer with them. Ver. 5. And God gave Ifrael a Saviour^ fo that they Verfe 5. went out from under the hand of the Syrians.] Some un- derfcand by this Saviour, an extraordinary Captain, whom God raifedup ro fight their Battles, with great Succefs. But it bting faid, that while Hazael lived he opprefied them, v. 22, it is more reafonable to un- derftand by this Saviour, the Son of Jehoahaz, : Who when Hdzael was dead, delivered them from their Bondage, ^.25. And perhaps he did this in his Fa- ther's Life- time , Who made him joynt Sovereign with him felf. And the Children of Ifrael dwelt in their Tents, as They lived quietly and fecurely, not only O o o 2 in 4 <58 A COMMENTARY npon Chapter in their fortified Towns $ but in the Villages and the XIII. F' ields - t/'-VNJ Ver. 6. Neverthelefs they departed not from the Sins Verfe 6. of the Houfe of Jeroboam, who made Ifrael to fin , but walked therein.] Neither their Miferies, nor God's Mercies to them made any Alteration in them : But they continued in thofe Sins $ which had ruined the Houfe of Jeroboam^ and many of his Succeflbrs, And there remained the Grove alfo in Samaria.^ We read of a Grove which Ahab planted in Honour of Baal, i Kings XVL 33. But his Worfliip being ut- terly deftroyed by Jehu, I cannot but think that he cut down that Grove. And therefore the Grove here mentioned had in it the Image of fome other God. Verfe 7, Ver. 7. Neither did he leave of the People to Jehoa- faz bttt fifty Horfemen^ and ten Chariots."] With the Men belonging to them. And ten thoufand Footmen."] This explains what he means by the People in the foregoing words $ not all the People of Jfrael, but the Soldiers, or Men of War j, Of which there were no more left, than this fmall Number. For the King of Syria* had deftroyed them.'] God left them in his hand, to make this Deftruftion among them, Killing fome, and carrying others captive. And had txade them like the Dup by thrafljing.'] By perpetual Wars and Captivities,- which made very great Depopulations. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. Now the reft of the Atts ofjehoahaz, and all that he did, and hti Might^ are they not written in the Book*. *f the Chronicles of the Kings oflfrael.'] The Jud g- ments of God upon him were the more remarkable, ^becaufe he was a Man of Might : And was fo far from "being able to ; ftand before the Syrians, that he beat to Duft. tie Second Bool^ vf KIN G S. Ver. 9. And Jehoahaz, jlept with his Fathers, and they Chapter buried, him in Suntaria, and Joafi his Son reigned in XIII. htsftead."] Called in the next Verfe Jehoajh. \s^s** Ver. 10. In the thirty feventh Tear ofjoafl] King fhool^ and lie Jhot : and he faid^ the Arrow of the LORD's Deliverance^ -the Arrow if Deliverance from Syria."] A Sign the LORD would wound the Syrians by the Arms of the Ifraelitts : And give them a Glorious Deliverance from their Ty- ranny. For than fialtfwtie tie Syrians in Ayhek.*] In the Ter- ritories belonging to it, of which fee I Sam. IV. n XX IX. 1. The Syrians had taken Gath^ and Aphek, 1 take it, was not far from it ; So that it was as much as to fay, they (hould drive them out of the -Coun- try ^ as it follows, Tillthou haft deflroyed them."] Not all the People of but all their Forces wherewith they infefted Ver. 1 8. And hefaid, take the Arrows^ and he tooJ^ Verfe and he fat d unto the King of Ifrad^ fmite upon llx ground s> and Jje fmote thrice , and ftayed^\ That which he reprefented before by -the (hooting of an Arrow, he reprefents again by fmiting upon the Ground with the Arrows, z>fe. Victory over the Sy- vians, whom he {hould overthrow and caft down to the Ground in Battle. Ver. 19. -AndAhe Man of God vt>#$ wroth with him, y er f sind faid, thou flxwldft have faittenjive or fx tz*es? Then flwtildft thou Lave f mitten Syria till thou hadft con- jfumed&hemz whereas now thottjlwltfrnite Syria but thri A C M M E N r A R Y nfon Chapter &y tne former Sign the King of Jfrad might have irn- " XIII. derftood, that this was intended to fignify the fame \^\^\j thing: And I (uppofe the Prophet fpake fo, as to give him to underftand he would have him fmite a good many times. And he was angry at his Sloth and Unbelief, which made him ftop at the third ftroke: For if he had done it oftner, he (hould have utterly difabled them. He had before reprefented great Vi&ories which he {hould obtain : But not till now, how often he mould overcome : Which he was admonifhed by God to let him know by this Sign. And it is probable, the Prophet himfelf did not know, till he faw how often he fmote on the Ground. 'Verfe 20. Ver. 20. And Eliflia died, and they buried him: and the Bands of the Moabites invaded the Land at the Dom- ing in of the Tear."] Which was the ufual time when People went out to War, as I have (hown upon 2 Sam. XL I. See there.- But whether it was the next Spring after his Death $ or fome Years after, is doubt- ed. But the words feem plainly to import it was the next Spring. Verfe zi. Ver. 21. And it came to pafr, as they were burying a. Man.] Carrying him to his Grave. They fpied a Band of Men."] A Party of the Moa- bites > who were coming towards the Place, where they were to lay the Corps. And they caft him into the Sepulchre of Elijha.~\ Which -being rtear to the place where they then were, they Tolled away the Stone, and laid the Body by Eli/ha's : For fear, if they proceeded to the Sepulchre prepa- red for this Man, they mould fall into the hand of the Moabites. And the Second Btol^ BRINGS. 473 And when the Man was let down, and touched the Chapter Bones of EliJhaJ] From hence fome conclude, that XIII. this Invafion of the Moabites was fome Years after v^~v~^ Eli/has Death} when his Flelh was confumed, and only his Bones remained. That he revived and, flood upon his Feet."] By which Miracle God did the higheft Honour to his Prophet, and confirmed, both the Truth of what he had pro- mifed the King} and the Belief of a future Life. For this was fomething more than he had clone in Elifia's Life-time, when he could not without many Prayers, and ftretching himfelf, with great Applica- tion, upon the Body of the Child, raife it to Life a- gain : Whereas now upon touching of his dead Body only, God reftored a Man, in an inftant, to perfeft Health ^ for he (rood upon his Feet, and it is likely, walked home with thofe that brought him to be bu- ried. It is a poor Conceit of Abarbinel and others, that he was a wicked Man whom God rather would raife to Life again, than fuffer his dead Body io_re(l by fuch an holy Perfon as Eli/ha. It had been enough, if this had been thereafon, to have thrown this dead Body out of E////J/S Sepulchre, and let it lie upon the Ground. Ver. 22. But Hazael King of Syria opprejfid Jfrael Verfe 22* all the days ofjehoahaz.'] None of thefe things which Eli/ha promifed, were accompliihed while Hazael li- ved : But after his Death Joafl) the Son of Jthoahaz> (as it here follows) vanquilhed Ben hadad the Son of Hazael. Ver. 23. And the LORD was gr adorn unto thent^Vzrte 23. and had Compajflon upon them, and refpctf unto them, becaufe of his Covenant with Abraham^ Ifaac and Jacob^~\ For whofe fake he fpared them, and would not let P p p the A C M M E N T A R Y pon the Opprtffion of the Syrians continue fo long, as to rni them. And would not dcftrffj them, neither cajl them out of his Prefince as yet.} But allowed them a longer fpace for Repentance. Verfe 24. Vcr. 24. So Hazatl King of Syria died, and Ben- hadad kk Son reigned in hisftead.~] The Name of Ben- hadad had for a long time been common to the Kings of Syria. : And now was renewed in another Family. Verfe 25. Ver. 15. Jehoafi the Son of J-ehoahaz took again out of the hand of Bcn-hadad the Son of Hazael, the Cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his Fa- ther by War."] He took all the Cguntry on the other fide of Jordan in the Days of Jehtt, X. 35. Befides which he made further Conquefts on this fide Jordan, in the Days of Jehoahaz* : Whether Jehoafo recovered all is not certain, but what his Father loft, it is here fa id he regained. Three times did Joafi leat hint, and recovered the Cities oflfrael.'] It is not recorded where thefe three Battles were fought, but the Succefs of them was fo great, that he retook all that his Father had loft. Chapter XIV. C H A P. XIV. Verfe I. Verfe L'tNthefecondTearofJoaflnheSonofJehoa* haz, King of Ifrael^ reigned Amaz,iah the Son ofjoafh King ofjttdah.] This was, as Dr. Light- foot obferves, the thirty eighth Year of his Father Jo- afh King of Judah : Three Years current before his Death. For his Father had thrown himfelf into fuch a mife- tie Second Bool^ BRINGS. 4 - ? a miferable Condition, by his Apoftacy, and his Miar- Chapter der of Zachariah (XU. 17, 18.) th.it he was become XIV. unfit to manage the Kingdom. See Harm. According to that which is written in the Book of (_/-V^ > u the Law ofMofes, wherein the LORD commanded, Verfc 6. faying^ the Fathers fhatt not be put to Death for the Children ^ nor the Children for the Fathers : But every Man ft all be put to Death for his own fin.~\ In this he a&ed like a good Man, and was not moved to cut off the Children, contrary to Law, for fear they fhould make a Faction againft him, and take revenge for their Father's Death. Verfe 7, Ver. 7. He Jlew of Edom."] He alone, ard the Men of Judah made the following Slaughter: Having, at the command of a Prophet, abandoned the Help of the Ifraelites : Though he had purchafed it with a great Sum of Money, 2 Chron. XXV. 7, 8, 9, 10. The Edomites had revolted from *judah in the Days of Je- ram, VIII. 10. and now Awaziah indeavours to re- duce them. In the Vattey of Salt.~] A place mentioned, 2 Saw. VIII. 13. where fee what I have obferved concerning the Reafon of this Name. Ten thoufandl} And he took as many Captives. See aGWXXV. 12. And he took Selah by Warl} The Metropolis of Ara- lia Petrjai which took its Name from hence: For Selah is the fame with the word Petra, a Rock. 5 upon which the City ftood. From this Rock he feems to have thrown down the ten Thoufand, whom he took alive, and broke in pieces, as is faid in the fore- named Place, 2 Chron. XXV. 12. Hagar fignifies the fame, as Bochartvs obferves, by which Name the Ara- bians call it, from the Rocky Mountain which hang- ed over this place, which St. Pattl calls by the Ara~ lick. Name Hagar. And tbe Second Eoo\ of K I N G S. And culled the Name of it Jokfheel unto this Day."] Chapter Which Name imports, Obedience of God^ or to God. XIV. Becaufe, having taken it, he fetled, as fome imagine, o"V"^ the Laws and Statutes of Mofis in this Place, or ra- ther, he acknowledged, by giving it this Name, that the Pofleifion of this Place, was a Reward of his Obedience to the Man of God, who required him to difmifs all the Forces he had hired of the Ifrtelites, 2 anw. XXV, 10. Ver. 8. Then Amttziah King ofjudah fent a. Meffm* Verfe 3. ger to Jehoajh King of Jfrael> faying^ Come^ let us look one another in the Face."] Being flatbed with his great Vidory over the Edo mites , and incenfed by the Da- mages the Ifraelites had done him ("2 Chron. XXV. i^.J he fent this Challenge to the King oflfrael, fay- ing, Let us fet our Armies in Battle array one againft the other, and try our Strength. Which fome think he did only to try their Military Skill and Prowefsj not to revenge Injuries, or get his own again. Which if he had intended, he would have afiaulted the Ifraelites on a fudden : And not given them fuch fair warning to ftand upon their Defence. But it is more probable,, that being incouraged, as I faid, by his late Vi&ory, he refolved to be revenged for the Slaughter of his Anceftors by Jehu (Chap. IX.) and for the late Spoil the Ifraelites had made in his Coun- try (2 Chron. XXV. 10, i^.J but he refolved to have. Satisfaction, in- a fair and honourable way, and not by Suprize. And the words may be thus under- ilood $ Either give we SatiffaflioH, or let iff try it out m A Battle. It is probable alfo, he might think of con- quering the Kingdom of IJrael, if he did not fatisfy him, and bring it back to the Houfe of David ; For fo Jehoajh underffcood him, as Jofephttf thinkSj asd the fequel (hows. Ver. ?- 47 8 A CO MM EH TART WtJ Chapter Ver. 9. AndJehoaJhKingofJlra^.fentto Amaziah XIV. K*"Z of Judal^ fying, the Thi/ik that was in Lebanon "V'VJ fent to. the Cedar that was in Lebanon?] He compares Verle 9. himlelf to a Cedar, and Ar*az,iah to a ThilHe : Which is a poor Shrub, not worthy of that Name $ but having drawn Blood on Tome poor Traveller, and Corel y arfiifted him (as Afototiap had done the Edomites) grew very proud and would be no longer one of the Shrubs, but equal to the moft goodly Trees. Saying, give me thy Daughter to my Son to lVife.~] Make an Affinity with me, and let us be one King- dom. So tome underftand it, that Jehoafi thought he would have him joyn his great Kingdom, which was ten Tribes } unto his poor one of two Tribes : That being united there (hould be but one King over them all: And they frsould try their Fortune in a pitcht Battle, which of them two fhould be the King. But this feems to be too much (trained. He only in- timates, that if he (hould defire a friendly Alliance with him, hedefpifed it as below him, as much as a Thiftle is below a Cedar. And there pajjed by a. wild Beaft that was in Lebanon, and trod down the Thiftle7\ This reprefents how eafily his Soldiers (who are compared to wild Beads) would reprefs his Infolence. Verfe 1O. Ver. 10. Lhoithaft indeed frnitten theEdowites t and thine heart hath lifted theeu}.'] This hath made thee proud. Glory in this % and tarry at hotne.~] Be content with the Honour thou haft won . And be quiet. For why [houldft thou meddle to thine hurt, that then fhouldft fall, even than, and Jttdah irith thee .iah XIII. looked one another in the face. ,] Encountred one ano- L/*V\J ther in a Fight. Verfc 1 1 At Beth-foewefi}, which belongeth t Jttdah.~] See I Sam. vi. ii. Ver. 1 2. ^W Judah was put to the worfe before Ifrael, Verfe 12 and they fled every Man to their TentsJ] So their Hou- fes were called from their having no other Habita- tions for a long time in the Wildernefs : And in Ca- naan many continued in fuch Dwellings. Jofephut faith the People of Judah did not ftrikeaStroJte, but being poflefled with a panick Fear, when they faw a formidable Army fet in Battle array again ft them, ran away. Ver. 19. And Jehoafo King of Jfrael, too( AwaziahVttk King of J ltd ah > the Son ofjehoafo^ the Son of Aha&iah at Bethfiemefl}J] I fuppofe his Anceftors are mention- ed, to (how, that this was the greater Difgrace to him: Being defcended from a R.ace of Kings, which Jehoafi was not. And came to 'jerufalent.'] Bringing Amaz>iah with him: And letting the Inhabitants know (as Jofephv* faith) that he would flay him before their Lyes, if they did not immediately open their Gates unto him : Which was accordingly done. And brokg down the \VaUofJentfaletn.fromtbe Gate ofEphraiw. unto tie corner Gate, four hundred Cubits. ~] That the City might lie open to his Invafion, if they fiiould break the Conditions he impofed upon them, Ver. 14. And he took^all the Gold and Silver, <*#< Verfe all the Ftjfcls that rvercfouncLin the Houfeofthe LORD, and in the Treafiires of the Kings H)ufe, and Hoftages."] The Sons, I fuppofe, of the principal Perfons of the 480 A COMMENT ART upon Chapter City ; for a Security that they would be quiet, and XIV. give him no Difturbance. L^V"V> And returned to Samaria] For he had enough to do to defend himfelf from the Syrians ; and therefore did not intend a Conqueft of the Kingdom ofjndah y nor fet a Garrifon in Jerttfalem. But contented him- felf with the Spoil of it 5 and perhaps made them Tributaries to him. This was an heavy Punifhment upon Amaziah, for going after other Gods, 2 Chro*. XXV. 20. Vcrfe 15. Ver. 1 5. Now the reft of the Aftsofjehoaflj which he did) and his Might^ and how he fought with Amaziah King of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Ifrtel ?~] There were many other things, which happened in this War, as Abar- bi*el obferves, nelides thefe here compendionfly rela- ted : For which he refers to a Record which was ve- ry well know in thofe Days 5 but now is loft. Vcrfe 16* Ver. 16. And Jehoafh Jlept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, with the Kings of ffrael, and Jero- boam his Son reigned in his ftead. Verfe 17. Ver. 17. AndAMaziabtheSonofJoafiKingofJu- dab, lived after the Death of Jehoafl) the Sen of Jehoa- haz, King of Ifrael fifteen Tears.~] But in no great Credit with his People, for Raflri thinks he lived moft of his time in Lachijh, whether he was forced to fly (as it follows) by reafon of a Confpiracy againft him in Jerufaletft. Vcrfe 1 8. Ver. 18. And the reft of the /8s of Amtztab, are they not written in the Book cj the Chronicles of the Kings ofjttdah'i] He mentions nothing of his Might which he (hewed 5 being a weak Prince, who loft the Reputation of his Country. Ver. 1. the Second BM( of K I N G S, Ver. 19. Now they made a Confpiracy again ft hint in Chapter Jerufalem.'] Their City having been expofed to Re^ XIV. proach by the great Breach made in their Wall, and V^ >/ '" 1% * > ipoiled of its btft Ornaments, and Tome of their Chil- ^ er ^ e ' 9' dren carried away as Hoftages for their good Behavi- our, he became very odious to the great Men of the City : All this being brought upon them by his Pride and rxallinefs, and Apoftacy from God, i Citron. XXV. 37. And he fled to Lac/rift."] The Confpiracy it feems grew fo ftrong, that he could not rcfift it $ but was forced to feek for Safety by Flight, in a fortified Ci- ty upon the Borders of the Philiftines. . ^ And they fent after him to Lachtfl), and flew him there."] They fent to have him privately murdered (as Jofephw reports it) which fome undertook and effected. Ver. 20. And they brought him on Horfej.~] In aVerfe 20. Chariot. And they buried hint in Jerufalem with hff Fathers in the City of David."] They did him fome Honour when he was dead, though they hated him when he was alive. Ver. 21. And aU the People of Judah too^Azariah."] Vcrfe 11. Called Vzziah in the next Chapter, v. 30. and in 2 Cliron. XXVI. i. Both 1 fi^nify the fame thing': Qne being as much as the Help of God t the other t the Strength of God. Which was fixteen Tears old, and made him King in/lead of hff Father AmaziahJ] But this was twelve Year after Awaziafrs Death : For he was made King in the twenty feventh Year of Jeroboam ^See upon XV. i.) who began to reign in the fifteenth of Amazrah, v. 13. Ver. 2* A COMMENTARY upon Ch^prer Ver. xs. He built Elath."] Repaired ir. XfV. And reftored it tojttdah J It was a City belonging *^s**s to Edom, II. Dent. 8. iChron. VI II. 17. which King Verfe ***r)avid, I fuppofe, took when he conquered this Country.* But in the Days of Joram the hdomites re- volted and recovered Elath. After that the King Jlept with his Fathers^} It i$ a probable Opinion or Abarbinel, that the King his Fa- ther, after the great Slaughter of the Edomites men- tioned in the foregoing Chapter, took this place: But did not annex it to the Kingdom of Judah, by reafon of his Succeeding Troubles. Which Azarieh did, by builuinga Wall about ir, and fortifying it: Whf reby he fecured the Pofleflion ot it. Vcrfe 22. ^'cr. 23. In the fifteenth Tear of Awaziab King of Jttdah* Jeroboam thefon ofjoa/h King of Ifrael began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one lears.~] W 1 ich wis much longer than any of the Kings of Jfrael : J,hu himlelt the firft of his Family reigning but twenty eight Yean, which was longer than any before him, as I obferved X. 96. Vcrfe 24. Ver. 14 And he did that which was evil in the fight of the LORD: he departed not from all the Sins ofje* robot m the Son of Neb at, who made Ifrael to fin ^ As he ha \ the Name, fo he trod in the fteps of him, wh > fi ft cor upte4 Ifrael wich Idolatry. Vcrfe 25. Ver. 2f. He reftored the Coafi of Ifrael from the en" tring of Ham at h to the Sea of the Plain.'] As Jiajh his Father had reft >rcd many Ciries which Hen-hadad hid nken: So Jeroboam reftored a large Territory, which other frngshaJ taken from them, viz,, all the Coun.ry from LibaniK on ihe North, to the Lake on the Souih, According the Second Bool^ of K I N G S. According to the Word of the LORD God of Jfrael, Chapter which hefpake, by the hand ofhitfervant Jonah the f on XIV. of Amittai the Prophet , which was of 2 Chron. XXV 1.2 9. In which Field, it is probable, the Sepulchre of the Kings the Second Btol^of KING S. 487 Kings was: Wherein they would not bury Axariab, Chapter becaufe he was a Leper $ but yet very near to the Se* XV. pu'chre, where his Anceftors lay interred. tXVN Ver. 8. In the thirty eighth Year of Azarrah Ktg 0/Vtrie 8, Judah^ did Zacharia thefon of Jeroboam reign over If- raet in Samaria fix Months.] Some are confident the Throne was vacant two and twenty Years between the Death of Jeroboam and the Inauguration of his Son 5 either through Wars from abroad (which Je- rcbaam might have provok'd againft his Houfe, by the Conqueft of Hamath and DamafiufJ or through War at Home, which appears they think from the difaftrous End ofZachariah^ v. 10. See Dr. Light' foot in his Prolegomena to his Harmony of the Evange- ///r, Se&. VI. But there are few that follow this Opi- nion, though one moft learned in thefe, as well as other things (Dr. Alix) thinks there was an Inter- regnunt of twenty four Years. If there be any Diffi- culty in this account, moft think it is fufficiemly fol- ved, by faying, that it was the thirty eighth Year,, from the time that Azariah began to reign with his Father. Ver. 9. And he did that which was evil in ^y%MVerfe o^ of the LORD, as his Father had done : he departed not from the fins of 'Jeroboam the fon ofNebat^ who made If ~ rael to fin.] Therefore God cut him otf fpeedily : The time approaching, when he intended to put an end to the Kingdom of Ifrael. Ver. 1C. And ShaUnm the fan of Jaheflj nw$/m/Veife to* againjl him, and fmote htm before the People, and flew him^ and reigned in htfftead.~] It is uncertain who *' this Skallum was, or whit was the Prerence of his ; Confpracy, and of his poflfeffing himfelf of the Throne: But if is pretty plain, t think^ that he laid hii Treaion privAttly and lecret (^. i $>) and then made. 4 88 * COMMENT ART nfon Chapter made an open Aflault upon the King's Perfon in the XV. Face of all the People. L/"V~w Ver. ii. And the reft of the Atfs ofZachariah, be- Verfe u.&old lh?y are written in the Book^of the Chronicles of the Kings of Ifrael.'} We read of nothing that he did } therefore the meaning is, that his Behaviour in the fix Months time wherein he reigned, how he mana- ged things, and provoked this Con fpi racy, are recor- ded elfewhere: The Author of this Book intending only to give a Brief account of the remaining Kings of Ifrael. Verfe 12. Ver. 12. This was the Word of the LORD which he fpake to Jehu, faying, thy Sons fhalljit on the Throne of Ifrael unto the fourth Generation. Andfo it came to pafs^} How unfaithful foeverthey proved to God, he faith- fully kept his Promife which he made to Jehu : Whofe Sons Jehoaha~^-' his ftead.~] Jofephta thinks Menabew was General of ^ cr ^ e H* the Army of Ifrael, which befieged Tirzak when Za- chariah was (lain. And he hearing what Shaflum had done, came and ferved him in his kind, and made him felt King. Ver. 15. And the reft of the AftsofShaUum, aadtbeVcrfe 15. Confpiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the Book, of the Chronicles of the Kings oflfrtel.'] A larger account was given of his Contpiracy, and the occa- fion of it, and his Succete in it, in that Book : Where fome other memorable Acts, which it feem he did in a Month's time, were recorded. Ver. 1 6. Then Menahemfmote Tiphfah, and the Coafts Verfc I . thereof from Tin**h ^ becaufe they opened not to him^ therefore hefraote //.] Some take this Tiphfah to be the fame with that mentioned in the i Kings IV. 24. But that lay upon the River Euphrates, whereas this was near to Tirzah : Which was once the Royal City of Ifrael. To the Siege of which, Jofephut thinks Menahent returned after the Slaughter of SkaUni* : Not as General of the Hoft, but as their King. But they knowing he had no Title to the Kingdom, would not open their Gates to him. Therefore he took it by Force, and fpoiled it, and all the Territory about it, till he carne to Tipbfah, which he ufedmore cruelly. And all the Women therein, that were with Child, he ript up."] By which Barbarity he thought to terrify the whole Kingdom, that none might dare to with- (land him. Rrr Ver. 17. 45 ?o A COMMENT* T upon Chapter Ver. 1 7. In the thirty ninth Tear of Azariah King of XV. Jadah began Menahem the fon ofGadi to reign over Jf- *^~V***-' rael^ and reigned ten Tears in Sawaria.~] He feems to Vcrfe 1 7. h ave reigned with fuch Fury, that none durft oppofe him : But he pofTefled the Throne ten Years before God cut him off. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And he did that which was evil in the fight of the LORD : He departed not all hif days from the fins of Jeroboam the fon of Nebat, who made Ifrael to fin. Verfe 19. Ver. 19. And Put the King of Affyria came again ft the Land,~] That is, the Land of Ifrael. He was Go- vernour of Babylon, who together with Arbaces the Mede, (lew Sardauapalvs thelaftof the Ajjyrian Kings: And tranflated the Empire to the Chaldeans. For he reigned over Babylon and Nineveh : And Arbaces over the Mades and Per/tans. He was the firft: King of Af~ fyria that invaded Ifrael $ and began their Tranfpor- tation out of their own Country ^ as Abarbiuel ga- thers from i Chron. V. 28. And this is the firft time that we find any mention of the Kingdom of Afy- ria, fince the Days of Nimrod, who eredbed a fmall Kingdom here, X. Gen. n. And they were no great People, one would think, when the LXXXIII. Pfalm was penned, where they are reckoned as Auxiliaries to the Children of L0f, againft the Ifraelites, together with other fmall Nations : But now they had a great and powerful Empire. And Menahem gave Put a thoufand Talents of Silver^ that his hand might be with him^ to confirm the King- dom in hif hand.~] By this great Prefent he not only turned away the Army of Pal from him : But pur- chafed his Friend (hip } fo that he helpt to eftablifh his Authority. Which was very tottering, by reafon be was not only an Ufurper, but had exercifed ex- (ram tbe Second Bool^ of K I N G S. tream great Cruelty upon his People, which no doubt Chapter made him extreamly hated, v. 10. XV. Ver. 20. And Menahem exatted the Money oflfrael, L/*V*NJ even of all the mighty Men of Wealth, of each fifty She- Verfe 20. kels of Silver, to give to the King of Affyria^] By this means, I fuppofe, he thought to ingratiate himfelf with the common People $ upon whom he laid no Tax: but charged only the Rich, according to the Proportion of their Wealth. For the Hebrew words do not import, that he made every rich Man in Ifrael pay fifty Shekels . But that he gave to the King of Ajjyria, fo many Shekels for every Man, that is, for every one in his Army. So they run exaclly, to give to the King of Ajjyria fifty Shekels of Silver, for each Man. So the King of Ajjyria turned back^ and flayed not there in the Land?] At that time he departed : But it is likely he afterward returned, in the Reign of Pe- fyh; and made the Deportation before- mentioned. " Ver. n. And the reft of the A8s of Menahem, and Verfe 21. all that he did, are they not written in the Bo&f^ of the Chronicles of the Kings of Ifrael? Ver. 32. And Menahem Jlept with hjf Fathers, and Verfe 22. Pekahiah his fon reigned in hjf flead."] This (hows him to have been a mighty Man, that notwithftanding his Violence and Cruelty, he left the Kingdom in his Family : Which the two foregoing Kings could not do. But it is evident, there was an Interregnum of a Year between the Reign of Menahem and Peka- hiah. For Pekahiah did not begin his Reign till the fiftieth Year of Azariah (as it here follows) and Me- nahem died the Year before, for he began to reign in the thirty ninth of Azariah (v. 17.) and reigned but ten Years. Ver. 23. In the fiftieth Tear of Azariah King of JH- verle 23. dah, Pekahiah the fon of Menahem began to reign over R r r 2 Jfrael A COMMENTARY nfm Chapter IJrae I In Samaria, and reigned two Tears."] His Reign XV. was fhort: Both becaufe he himfeff was wicked, and CX>Ou his Father alfo was an Ufurper. Vcrfe 4. Ver. 24. And he did that which was evil in the fight of the LORD: he departed not from the fins of Jero- boam thefon ofNebat, who made Ifrael to fin"] He was the wicked Son of a wicked Father : And fo periftied Cas it here follows) by fuch a Confpiracy as his Fa- ther made again ft Shallum. Veifc 25. yen 25. And Pekah thefon of Remaliah, a Captain' of his, con/fired againft him, and fmote him in Sama- ria, in the Palace of the Kings Houfe, with Argob and AriehJ] Thefe were two valiant Men, who fome think were in the Confpiracy with him againft Pekj*- hiah. But Abarbinel rather thinks they were two eminent Courtiers, who were always about the King. And with him fifty Men of the Gileadites.~] Who were his Guards, and perhaps aflifted him in his Treafon. And he kjtted him, and reigned in his ft e ad. ~] He was a great Commander under Pekahiah, for the He- brew word Shalifh fignifies more than- a bare Captain. Therefore Jofephttf calls him a Chiliarth, or an Officer over a thouiand Men. And the word carrying in it the Notion of three^ fome later Writers have there- fore thought him to be the third Perfon in the King- dom, next the King. No queftion he was lome con- fiderable Perfon, who had Soldiers at his Command, to execute his Defigns. Verfe 26. Ver. 16. And the reft of the A8s of Pekahiah, and aU that he did, behold, they are written in the Book, of the Chronicles of the Kings oflfrad. Verfe 27. ^ cr * 2 7- 1* the fifty fecond Tear of Azariah King of Judah, Pekah the Son of Rcmaliah began to reign over\ Ifrael in Samaria, and reigned twenty Years."] This is the fifth King that reigned over Ifrael during the Reign, of Azariali King of Jxdak. Ver. 2 8. ffc Second Bool^ of K 1 N G S. Ver. 28. He did that which was evil in the fight ^Chapter t&e LORD : he departed not from the fins of Jeroboam XV. the Son ofNebtt^ who made Jfrael to fin. v^v^-* Ver. 29. In the days of Pekah King of Jfrael.'} In Verf e 28. the laft Year of his Reign, as the Jews fay in Seder Olam Rabba. Came Tiglath Pilefer King of Ajjyria,] He was the Son of P/, and is called by other Authors P*/, or Phul-Ajptr,.zxiA htre Tiglath-PHl-Affitr .- The former part of this Name being taken from the River Tigris $ which is called by the Inhabitants Diglito.- From whofe Borders this King came. And took Ijon, and Abel-bethmaaeah.'] Twaftrong: Towns mentioned, i Kiags XV. 20. See there. And Janeah^ tttity, in the Tribe of Ephr*it.~] XVI. And Kedejh; and.Hazor.'} Which were izrthe Tribe - ofNaphtali, XII. Joft. 22. XIX. 36. AndGilead^] Which was on the other fide J&rda*. And Galilee, all the Land ef Naphtali.] The uppers Galilee 5 which was pofleffed by this Tribe, and bft/ Zebulun. And carried them captive^to Afljpia.~] Thi was-the- fecond Deportation of the ten Tribes : The firft be*- log made by P'ul, as I faid before, who carried away 1 the two Tribes and half beyond Jordan^ and this fecond was made by his Son, who carried away two other Tribes. Then-nine Years after, followed a third in the Days of the next King (XVML 9.} when the Remainder of the ten Tribes were carried away from their own Land. The Tribe of Judah ftill remained, but about eight Years after the former; put ofthat was carried away by Senatherib, when he took all their fenced Gities r ,XVin; 13, which with to the whole Country, the Jews call the fouuh . A CO MMENTAKY Hfon Chapter Deportation. Then a fifth followed, XXIV. 15. XV. and a fixih, XXV. t, 8cc. The Jaft is mentioned, V^V^VJ XXV. 25. Thus they are reckoned up by Abarbiml : And in this fecond (the Jews fay in Seder Olam Rab- ba) TigUth-Pilefer carried away the Golden Calf which was in Dan. But fee a more exad: account of Jttdah's Captivity in Mr. IVhifton's learned Chronology of the Old Teftament, p 52. Vcrfc 30. Ver. 30. And Hojbea the Son of Elah made a Con- fyiracy againft Pefah the Son of Remaliah.~] Who Ho- fkea was, or what was the ground of his Confpiracy is not recorded / But we may fuppofe it to have been, becaufe he governed ill, and by his cruel War with Jiidah, had brought the King ofAjfyria upon his own Kingdom (2 Chron. XXVIII. 16.) and thereby loft a great part of it. And fotote him, and flew him."] As Pe^ah had ferved Pekahiah. And reigned in hrfftead, in the twentieth Tear ofjo- thamthe King of Judah.'} Thefe words create a Diffi- culty : Foritisfaid, v. 33. that Jotham reigned but fixteen Years. Which Seder Olam Rabba. thus recon- ciles (for none can think any Writer whatfoever would fo foon contradict himfelf ) that this Confpi- racy was begun in the latter end ofjotham's Reign, but not put in execution till four Years after his Death. So that thefe words are to be underftood as if he had faid, Twenty years after Jot ham began to reign over Jndah Pekah wasflain. Dr. Light foot gives another account of it } that the Wickednefs of Ahaz was fo great, that the holy Writer would not men- tion him on this occafion, but rather fpeaks of his good Father, as if he were yet alive in which he fol- lows R. Solomon Jarchi. But this hath no (hew of Truth in it j Cnce fo much is faid of Ahaz, in the fol- lowing the Second BooJ^of KINGS. lowing part of this Hiftory. A late very Learned Chapter Writer ("in his Short View of the Chronology of the Old XV. Teftawent, p. 47.) hath given a better account of it IXW/ in thefe words, Becaufe there had been yet no mention mode of Ahazs Reign, therefore the old Epocha of hif Predeceffbr Jotham^ is ftil/vtade ufe of. But the plain . truth is, that Jotham reigned four Years with his Fa- iher Azariah. Ver. 31. And the reft of the Atts ofPekah, and altVttfe 31. that he did, behold they are written in the Book, of the Chronicles of the Kings of Ifrael.'] In that Book which is now called by the Name of Chronicles his War with Judah is recorded, 2 Chron. XXVIII. Ver. 3 2. In thefecond Tear of Pekah the Son of Re- Verfc 32. tttaliah King of Ifrael began Jotham the Son of uzziab King ofjndah to reign."] Why he (hould be all along called Azuriah, and here only Vzziah and v. 34. no account can be given : Unlefs it were to (how he had two Names, as I obfcrved, v. i. And it appears by the Book of Chronicles that Uzziah was as much ufed, when that Book was written, as the other. Ver. 33. Twenty five years old was he when he began to reign.~] Alone by himfelf^ for he reigned fome time with his Father during his Leprofy. See Dr. Light- foot in his Prolegom. to the Harm, of the Evang. Sedl:. VI. And he reigned Jtxteen Tears in Jerttfatefft, and hit Mothers tfatne was Zerufha, the Daughter of Zadok.~] It is not faid of what place, as is ufual : This Zado\ being fo well known, that there was no need to fet down his dwelling. Ver. 34. And he did that which was right in thejtght Verfe tfthe LORD.] bJtyuos a'pfe-nJ? d-7ci\torKi\ he wanted no Vertue belonging to a good Prince, as Jofephvs writes CLib. IX. Anti%. Cap. XI.) being, faith he, 4 COMMENTARY *po* Chapter fiovf Awards God, juft towards Mcn^ and ft ltd jaw of XV. the yubUque good. \^\^\j He did according to aU that his Father TJzziah had dotted] That is, according to all the good he had done : Bui did not imitate him in invading thePrieft's Office. Verfe 35, Ver. 35. Horobeit^ the high places were not removed ^ ihe People facrificed and burnt Incenfe ft/I/ in the high places. He built the high Gate of the Hottfe of the LORD.'] Which was between ihe Houfe of the King, and the Houfe of the LORD, XXIII. 20. It was built by Solomon $ but this King added a noble Structure to it. Verfe 36. Vcr. 36. Now the reft of the A8s ofjotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the Bool^ of the Chronicles of the kings of Juda&?~] See 2 Chron. XXVII. Verfe 37. Ver. 37. In tbofe days the LORD began to fend *- gainft Judah Rezin King ofSyria, and Pekah the Son tf Remaliah^] Thcfe two King's entred into a Confe- deracy againft Judah $ and made Preparations for War before Jothaat died : But he was fo happy as to be laid in his Grave in Peace $ their Defign being not executed till the Reign of the next King. Verfe 38. 38. And Jotbamflept with htf Fathers^ and was bu- ried with hit Father s^ in the City of David hit Father $ *nd Abaz his Son reigned in hit ftead. CHAP. the Second Bool^ of K I N G S. CHAP. xvi. ; Verfe i.TAT the feventeenth Tear tf Pek*h the Sen ofVerk i. X Rerxaliah Ahaz, the Son ofjotham King of Judah began to reign. Ver. 2. Twenty Tears old was Ahaz, when he began to Verfe 2. reign , and reigned fixteen Tears in Jerttfalew.'] He was a little more than twenty Years old. See upon XVIII. 2. And did not that which was right m the fight of the LORD his God, like David his Pther.~] As might have been expected from the good Education, which, no doubt, fo pious a Man as Jotham his Father gave him : Who left him an excellent Example. Ver. g. But he walked in the ways of the Kings of If- Verle 3. rael yea y and made his Son to pafs through the Firt % according to the Abominations of the Heathen, whom the LORD caft out before the Children of Ifrael.~] He was far worfe than any of the preceding Kings of Ifrael$ for he imitated thofe abominable Idolaters, whom God rooted out of the Land of Canaan. Who it is moft certain, fometimes burnt their Children in the Fire, as facrifices to their Gods, XII. Deut. 31. and the Children of Jfrael it is as certain Imitated them, XVI. E*ek. 20, n. XXIII. Ezek. 37. and 39. But whether Akaz, did that, or only made his Son pafs through the Fire by way of Lu ft ration (as they cal- led it) cannot be determined. It is no Argument that he did not offer him as a burnt Sacrifice, becaufe He^ekiak out-lived him , for he had more Sons, it is likely, than him. See concerning this horrible Im- Sff piety A COMMENT AK T nfon Chapter piety, what I have noted upon XVIII. Levit. 21. and XVI. upon XVIII. Dent. 10. v^-%/--*^ Ver. 4. And he facrificed and burnt Incenfe in the Verfe 4. fagh Places, and on the Hills , and under every green Tree.'] He added this to all his other Sins (of confe- crating his Son to Moloch by pafling him through the Fire, if not offering him in Sacrifice) that he himfelf facrificed in high Places, and on Hills, and under every green Tree : By his Example incourag- ing this Practice, which other Kings had only to- lerated. So we read, that People facrificed in high Places, even in good Kings Reigns, XII. 3. XIV. 4. XV. 4, Sec. But as they facrificed to God in thofe Reigns, fo we never read till now that any of thofe Kings facrificed there thcmfelves, as this King did 5 Who not merely fuffered this, but gave Countenance to it by his own PracYice, and thereby ftrengthened this Licenfe of private facrificing, contrary to the Law of God .- And which was worft of all, facrificing to- other Gods 5 it being very probable that he fancied fome Deity to inhabit under every well.fpread flou- riftiing Tree. Verfe 5. Ver. f. Then Rezin King of Syria, and Pekah Son ofRemaliah King of Ifrael came up* to Jerufalem ta War, and they befeeged Ahaz > but could not overcome bint.'] This feems not to agree with 2 Chron. XXVIIL 5, &c. where thefe two Princes are reprefented as getting great Victories over him. To which Abar- binel anfwers, that thefe things hapned at different times. For the Wars mentioned in the Book ofChro- nicies weje made feverally by thefe two Kings, where- in they profpered ^ Being the Minifters of Divine Providerice. Bat when now they joyned their Forces together, and not only came againft other Cities, but agairtft the Second BooJ^ BRINGS. againft Jerufalerv, God was pjeafed to make them Chapter mifcarry. XVI. Ver. 6. And at that time Rezin King of Syria?] L/"V^NJ When he broke up the Siege of Jerufalem, upon In- Verfe 6. telligence he received that Tiglath-Pilefer was coming to its Relief. Rejiored Elath to Syria.] This was a confiderable Port upon the Red Sea. And drove the Jews from Elath $ and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there to this day7\ This City had been recovered to the Dominion of Judak by 'A- zariah, XIV.xi. who took it from the Syrians-, Who now took it from them again, that they might not quite lofe the Fruit of their Expedition againft Jem- falem. Ver. 7. So Ahaz fent Meffengers to Tiglath-PileferVvtfe 7 King ofAffyria] There is a learned Man of our own, who hath lately given another Account of the Name of Pilefer, than that above- mentioned, XV. 29. For he thinks it is compounded of the Names of two of their Gods 5 Pit being the fame with Bel, and Azer or Azar was the Name of a Planet worftiipped by the Petfians, viz. Mars : And they much affected to have the Name of their Gods in their own Names $ which was a common thing alfo among the Jews : For which reafon the Name of Tiglath was added, which was the Name of Tygrti (as 1 obferved before) which, as all great beneficial Rivers, Mountains, and Trees, were accounted facred among the Heathen. See Dr. Hyde Hyftor. Relig. Vet. Perfar. Cap. 3. Saying, I am thy ferv ant, and thy Jon, come up, and fave me out of the hand of the King of Syria, and out of the hand of the King of Ifrael, which rife wp again fl. me.] He not only put himfelf, and all he had into his Protection $ but made himfelf his Subjeft, to hold Sffa all 500 A COMME N1ARY upon Chapter all he had of him by his Favour. For that is the XVI. meaning of I am thy fervant and thy fon $ that is, he was content to be his Vafial, if he would be his Pro- tector. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And Ahaz took the Silver and the Gold that was found in the Houfe of the LORD^ and in the Trea* fures of the Kings Houfe $ and fent it for a prefent to the King of Affyria^] Thefe Treafures had been fent fome Years ago, by Jehoafl) to the King of Syria, XII. 1 8. but itfeems they were well replenifhed again by the Piety of his Succeflbrs, Amaziah, Azariah, but efpecially Jotham. Vcrfc 9. Ver. 9. And the King of Affyria hearkned unto him : for the King of Affyria went up dgainft Damafcut and took.it^ It is very uncertain, when King Ahaz, Cent to defire this Help. If it was when they were preparing tobefiege Jerufalem, it was the Effect of his great Infidelity : For God had been fo gracious to him, as to promife by the Prophet Ifaiab, that thofe Kings (hould do him no hurt (VII. Ifa. 4.) giving him a Sign alfo to ftrengtben his Faith. Others think, it was after the King of Syria, and the King of Ifrael had miferably harazzed Ahaz his Country, though they could not take Jerufalew, as we read x Chron. XXVIII. 5, 6, 8cc. Whenfoever it was, the King of Affyria gave a powerful Diverfion to the King of Sy- ria : Invading his Country, and bcfieging the chief of it, of which he made himfelf Matter. And carried the People efit captive to Mr."] A Place in the Country of the upper Media, as Jofephtts tells us : From whence he brought fome People, to plant in Damafiuf. And flew Rezin."] Who was the laft of their Kings, for the Syrians never got up again, as the Jew/ ob- fcrve in Seder Ola* Rabba, Cap. XX. Whether he was was legal Succeflbr to Ben-hadad the Son of Hazael^ Chapter or an Ufurper is not certain, XVI. Vr. i o. And King Ahaz, went to Dantafcvs to Meet Tiglath- Pilefer King of Ajjyria^} To complement him upon his Succefs $ and perhaps to do him Homage, and to requeft him to do as much againft Pekah, as he had done againft Rezi*. For fome think that after this he went and took all thofe Places from Ifrael, which are mentioned in the foregoing Chapter, v. 29.. And after all he fell upon Judab it felf, and made great fpoil there alfo : As is fuggefted in 2 Cbron. XXVIII. 20, 21. And he Jaw an Altar that was in DAMafcw^ A beau- tiful Altar both for the Matter, and Form of it. And King Ahazfent to TJrijah the Prieft the Fafbion of the Altar ^ and the pattern ofit^ according to all the Workwanfhty thereof] Not only the Heighth, and Breadth, and Shape of it : But all the Carvings, I fuppofe, with the Figures and Images wherewith it was adorned, Ver. n. And Vrijab the Prieft built *n Alttr, *c- cording to all that King Ahaz, badfent from Datnafitft . fo Urijth the Prieft made it againft the King came front Dawafittf.'] He took care to have it done exa&Jy ac- cording (o the Pattern ; directly contrary to the Com- mand of God, who had appointed what kind of Air tar he would have (XXVII. Exo4. i, x, &c.) and that no other mould be made of any Matter or Fi- gure whatfoever. But there are always fome Men to be found, that will comply with the moft wicked Commands. Ver. 11. And when the King was wme frovtDAmAf cttf^ the Kingfaw the Altar."] That is, liked it and ap- proved of it, as perfectly made agreeable to his Mind, * COMMENTARY Hpon Chapter And the King approached to the Altar , and offered XVI. thereonl} The Morning Sacrifice : Which he was fo \VWJ prefumptuous, perhaps, as to offer himfelf. But not to God : For we arc told exprefly, 2 t#m/. XXVI1L 13. that he facrificed to the Gods of Damafcut. A wonderful Blind nefs! To worfhip thofe Gods, and expeft Help from them, who could not preferve their own Country from Ruin. Verfe 12. Ver. 13. And he burnt his burnt Offering."] Someun- derftand it, that he burnt it with Spices. And his Meat- offering^ and poured hif Drink: offering^ andfprinkled the Blood of his Peace-offerings upon the Altar.} Thefe were all prefcribed by the Law of Afo- fes : But offered them in a wrong Place, and unto other Gods. Verfe 14. Ver. 14. And he brought alfo the brazen Altar that was before the LORD, from the Forefront of the Houfe } from between the Altar and the Houfe of the LORD : and put it on the North-fide of the Altar."} By thefe words, it is plain that Urijah had a little more Mo- J makes a foleran Injunction, that all the publique Sa- crifices, of what fort foever they were, whether made by himfelf, or by the People, mould be conftantly offered upon his Altar. Which he calls the great Al- tar^ becaufe it was much bigger, I fuppofe, than the Altar of God. And the brazen Altar jhall be for me to enquire by."] He would not have it thought, that he intended wholly to lay afide the Altar made by Solomon: But rather to do it great Honour, by referving it for his own private Ufe ; when he pleaied to enquire of God by it. But there being no mention of the Name oiGod^ of the LORD, fome think the meaning is no more, but that he would have it ftand where he had fet it, till he confidcred what to do with it : And they fan- cy that he made the famous Dial of Ahaz^ with the Brafsofit. So they underftand the Hebrew words li lebaker, I will take care of it, and order whatfhali be done with it. And therefore according to this Interpretation, he laid it quite afide. But the other feems more agreeable to the Hebrew Phrafe, it foal/ be to me to enquire^ orfee^ or pray : A private Altar for his proper life : Whereby he pretended to have ftill fome regard to it $ though he had degraded it. Ver. 1 6. So did Urijah the Prieft according to aU Verfe i& that King Ahaz commanded?] Whatloever good Incli- nations he had, they were all over-ruled by the Com- mands of the King, with which he entirely com- plied. Ver. 17. And King Ahaz, cut off the Borders of the Verfe ffc Bafes.^ See I KingsVll. 28, ^^ A C M M E N I A R T pot Chapter A n ^ removed, the Border from off them, and tool^down XVI. tk e Sea from off the Brazen Oxen that were under it, and \ lt ^f\jpHt it upon a, Pavement of Sttnes."] This was done out of Contempt, that the Sea might nor appear fo great, and (lately 5 nor be fo ufeful to the Priefts, as it was before. For he intended quite to aboliih, and only/ to deface the Service of God at the Temple. So w< read in 2 Chron. XXVLII. 14. that hzjhttt up the doors of the Houfe of God, that none mould wormip there. Vcrfe 1 8. Ver. 18. And the Covert for the Sabbath that they had built in the HoufeJ] There is a vaft Variety of Opi- nions concerning this Mufach (which we tranilate Co- vert) and why it is called the Covert or the Sabbath. The moft probable is, that it was a covered Place, where the King fat in the Porch of the Temple, or at the entrance of it, upon the Sabbath, or other great Solemnities, which were called by that Name. Thus Precopixt Gazettf. This Ahaz took away, intending not to trouble himfeif to come to the Temple 5 but to facrifice any where : In every Corner of Jtrufalem^ and in the fever al Cities of Judah $ which he would have be thought as holy as Jcrufalem, 2 Chron, XX VIII. 34, 25. And it -is a probable Conje&ure of a very Learned Man of our own, that Ahaz did this to ex- prefs his Hatred and Contempt of the Sabbath : For the Worfhip of Idols, and Violation of the Sabbath, are frequently joyned together in Scripture, efpecially in ete/XX. 16. XXII. 8, 9. XXIV. 37, 38. and in a remarkable place in the Maccabbees, 1. 1. 44. See Spencer de Leg. Hebr becattfe me feared not the Lord^ What thenfiould 4 King do to ttf ? X. Hofea 3. See his fhort View of the Chronology of the Old Teftament, p. 48. And he reigned^ in Samaria over Ifrael nine Years.~] Viz. after his peaceable Poflefiion of the Throne. For from the time that he pretended to it, upon the Slaughter of Pe/(ah, he reigned feventeen or eighteen Years, viz. twelve in the time of Ahaz^ who reigned (ixteen Years, and fix in the time of Hezekjah, XVIII. 10. , Ver. 2. And he did that which was evil in thefght of the LORD, but not as the Kings of Ifrael that were before hittt.~\ For he did not hinder his People from going to worftiip at Jerufalem : But, as the Hebrew Do&ors fay, took away the Guard that Jeroboam fet in the Paflage, to keep Men from going to the fo- lernn Feafts there. And one of the Golden Calvesbe- ing'carried away captive, his Devotion, it is likely, was not great for the other remaining. And yet not- withftanding, God exterminated Ifrael in his days : To (how (faith Seder Olam Rabba, Cap. XXII.) that it; was not merely for the fake of their Kings, upon- whom the Ifraelitesc&R all the Blame of their Depra- vation, that they were carried captive. See 1^17, the Second Eoo\ of K I N G S. $07 Ver. 3. Again ft him came up Shalwanefer King #/ Chapter yriaT] Some take this to be but another Name for XVII. Tiglath-Pilefer. For which I find no ground, and u^VXJ rather think Shalmanefer was his Son, and ^ucceflbrin Verfe 3. the Kingdom of Affyria. And Hofiea, became his Servant, and gave him Pre- fentt.~] Made himfelf a Tributary to him: And pre- fented him with Gifts in token of his Subje&ion to him, and as an earneft of his future Obedience. Ver. 4. And the King of Affyria, found Confpiracy in Verfe 4, Ho/he a } for he hadfent Meffengers to So King of Egypt, and brought no Prejents to the King of Ajfyria, as he had done Tear by Tearl} He defigned to make off his Yoke, and be no longer his Subject, As he found by two undeniable Evidences. Firft, that he had fent to treat with the King of Egypt : And denied him the ufual Tribute, which he was bound to pay him every Year. St.Bierom calls this King of Egypt, Sua, and Jofephfff calls him Soan, and the LXX. Segor, who is the fame with the famous Sabacon^ an Ethiopian men- tioned by Dt odor iff Siculut^ and Herodotus. See Sir J. Marfliam, Can. Chron. Sec. XVI. and our famous Vjffer in his Annals, vid. A. 3989. Therefore the King of Ajjyria [Iwt up, and bound him in Prifon.'] He firft befieged Samaria, and when he had taken it, made bim a'dofe Prifoner 5 TheHifto- ry of which follows. Ver. 5. Then the King of Affyria went up througloMtV&fe $. all the Land.'] He firft pofTeiTed himfelf of the Coun- try of Moab (as the fame great Primtte obferves^ that he might leave no Enemies at his Back $ and deftroyed their two chief Cities, Ar and Kir-hares, according to the Prediction of Ifazah, XVI. v. i. and the laft.- And then he invaded the Kingdom of Jfrael, and pof- fcffed himfelf of it. Ttt ^ And 508 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter And vent up to Samaria, and befiegedit three Tears.'] XVII. JcfepLtts rightly obferves, two Expeditions of this CXV%- King againfi the Land of Jfrael. Firft, when he made Hojhea tributary to him : And now when he made himfelf Matter of the whole Country, and befieged the Capital City, L. IX. Antiq. Cap. XIII. Verfe 6. Ver. 6. In the ninth Tear of Hofhe a, the King of Af- fyria tool^ Samaria, and carried Jfrael Away into Ajjyria, and placed them in Halah y and in Habor, by the River ofGozan."] There is no reafon that any ftiould ima- gine thefe Ifraelites were carried into Colchis, Iberia, Armenia the lefs, and the fartheft Scythia, when the Scripture faith fo exprefly, that they were carried into Afyria^ and the Cities of the Medes. And when the very Places are to be found into which they are faid here to be carried in thofe Countries, viz. Chalac, and Chabor, and Gozan : For what was Chalach (as Bo- chartus obfervesj but Ptolemies Chalachena, on the North of Affyria : And Chabor is plainly enough the fame with his ^a^cJg^^, a Mountain between Media and Affyna. Between which Mountain, and the Caf- pian Sea, there is the City Gauzania, that is Gozan> between the two Channels of the River Cyrus. And in the Cities of the Medes.~] Whether Tiglath- Pilefer bad carried others of them out of Galilee. Verfe 7, ^ er - 7 For fo it wot, that the Children of Jfixtl had finned againft the LORD their God, which had brought them #p out of the Land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh King of Egypt, and had ferved other Gods7\ This they had done a long time : For from the be- ginning of Jeroboam's Schifm to the carrying Ifr.ael captive was two Hundred and fixty three Years. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And walked in the Statutes of the Heathen, n>hot God had caft out from before the Children of If- rael.~] Of the Amorites and other impious People $, whom the Second Book^ of K I N G S. whom he expelled from the Land of Canaan, to make Chapter room for them. XVII. And of the Kings of Ifrael, which they had made.~\\^~>S** Viz. the Golden Calves, whofe Wormip the Kings of Ifrael had ordained : To keep them from going up to worfhip God at Jerufalem. Ver. 9. And the Children of Ifrael did fecretly thofe Verfe 9. things which were not right againft the LORD their God ~] Befides the publick Impiety authorized by their Kings, they privately exercifed Idolatry, according to their own Fancy. And they built them high places in all their Cities?} They were not content to worlhip upon Hills and Mountains, but they raifed high Places in all Cities to offer Sacrifice. From the Tower of the Watchmen to the fenced Cities.] In all places, both thofe that were defert, and thofe that were inhabited. Or, both in the Country, and in the City. For the Tower of the Watchmen are thought to be thofe little Houfes which the Country People built, wherein to watch their Flocks and their Fruits , And preferve them from wild Realts, or Robbers. Ver. 10. And theyfet them up Images and Groves in Verfe every high Hit/, and under every green Tree.~} The He- brew word Afoerjfft, which we translate Groves, {hould be rendred Idols of that Name, as Selden hath ob- ferved, Syntag. de Diff Syrfc, 2. Cap. 2. Where he plainly demonftmes this word doth not fignify the Grove, but the Numen or Deity placed in the Grove. For how {hould Groves tefet under every.grcen Tree ? As it is herefaid the Afierim were. And thus Kimchi faith in the Root Aft>ur, that every wooden thing that was worihipped, was called Afherah. And Pra- Gaz/, concerning whom the LORD had charged them^ that theyfliould not do like them."] XXIII. Exod. 24, 32. . and many other places. Ver. 1 6. And they left all the Commandments of the Verfc LORD their God, and made them molten Images, even two Calves^ and made a Grove."} The making a Grove was a greater Impiety than is commonly imagined. For in their Groves they worftiipped Baalim, as ap~ pears from III. Judges 7. that is, Heroes, to whom thofc Grovei were confecrated, being their Sepulchre. . And here many filthy Rites were pratifed, in honour/ of Ke0*tf EAccbtts^ and fuch like Deities. - Chapter -And worfiipped all the hoft of Heaven , and ferved XVff. Baal.} They grow worfe and worle, not contenting \^/v~\j themfelves with the Worftiip of the tw^ Calves, &c. but worshipped the Stars of Heaven (againft which Mofes had given them a particular Caution IV. Deut. 19.) Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, andtheM00#, but efpe- cially Baal t which was the Sun. Verfe 1 7. Ver. 1 7. And they caufed their fans and their daughters to pafs through the Fire, and ufed Divinations and In- chantments.~] Which were the mod abominable fins of the Heathen. See XVIII. Levit.ii. XIX. 26. XX. 2. 3, &c. and XVIII. Dent. 10. and upon v. 3. of the ' foregoing Chapter. And fold themfelves to do evil in the fight of the LORD, to prwoke him to anger."] They were fo in- duftrious to do wickedly, and fo inceffant in it, as if they had been Slaves, that were fold to that Dru- gery. Verfe 1 8. Ver. 1 8. Therefore the LORD was very angry with Jfrael, and removed them out of his ftght.~] From the Holy Land, where his Temple was, in which he dwelt among them. Till there was none left, but the Tribe ofjud*honly.~\ Unto whom adhered part of Benjamin and the Le- uites : Who, as it here follows, imitated the Wicked- nefs of Ifrael: But yet had fome Mixture of good Kings among them. Whereas all the Kings of Ifrael perfifted in the fins of Jeroboam : And therefore, be- fore their Removal our of their Land, they fufFered great Calamities, no lefs than nine of their Kings be- ing killed (as Abarbinel notes) before their Jaft King was carried captive. Verfe 1 9. Ver. 1 9. All 6 Judah kept not the Commandments of the WED their God, but walked in the Statutes of If- rael which they made.} Followed the idolatrous De- vices tie Second Boot^ BRINGS. 5^ vices of the ten Tribes : As they did moft notorioufly Chapter in the laft Keign ofAbaz. Whofe Son Hezekiah in- IX"VN deed made a noble Reformation : But it lafted no XVIL longer than his time : So extreamly was the Nation corrupted. Ver. 20. And the LORD rejefled.'] With loathing Verfe and abhorrence, as the word imports. All the Houfe of Ifrael.'] The whole ten Tribes* And ajflitfed them^ and delivered them into the hand of Spoilers, until he had cafl them out of hffjight.~] See X. 31, 33. XIII. 3, 7- Ver. 21. For he rent Jfrael from the Houfe of DA- Verfe 2 vid.~\ Here was the Foundation of their Ruine. And he made 'Jeroboam the f on of Nebat their King, and Jeroboam drave Ifrael from following the LORD, and made Ifrael fin * great fin. "\ Of which he was the Author; but they were too forward to comply with him. Ver. 22. For the Children of jfrael walked in att the Verfe 12 fns of Jeroboam which he did $ they departed not from them.] They were Co inclined to Idolatry, that a long Succeffion of God's Judgments upon them could not reclaim them. Ver. 23. Vntil the LORD removed Jfrael out <>/ Verfe 23, fight ^ as he had faid by all his ferv ants the Prophets.'] Unto whofe Admonitions and Threatnings they had no regard. So was Ifrad carried away oat of their own Land to Ajfyria, unto this day,~\ As they Jold thewfelves to do evil (v. 17.) foGod delivered them up to be Slaves tothofe whofe Gods they had worfhipped, v. 16, 17- Ver. 24. And the King ttf AjfyrU brought Men'_. Verfe This was not done by Sbalmanefer, luc by his Son Efet-haddon, IV. Ezra i-. II U U Fram ^14 A COMMENTARY npon Chapter Prom Babylon.] Which was then fubjeft to the King XVII. of AffyriA } but not long after revolted. And from Cut hah."] A.-CityofChald*a 9 as Abarbinel expounds it. And fo doth our Dr. Hyde out of feve- ral PerJ/an Writers, Hifl. Relig. Vet. Per/ Cap. 2. But it rather here fignifies a Country called Cujk a lfo (which perhaps had its Name from the forenamed City) from whence the greateft part of this Colony being brought, the People in after times were called Cuthti. For the fame Author truly obferves that the Country called Cu/h was in tbe Babylonifh Dialed (afterward called the Chaldean) called Cufb. For they were wont to change the Letter Schin into Thau. In this Country, in the Land of Shinar, Cufo nrft fet- led } and his Pofterity fpread it felf into Arabia. And from Ava.~] The Avites were a very ancient People, who were driven by the Caphtorim out of Hazerim : And went and fetled beyond Euphrates. See upon II. Dent. 23. And from Hamath.'] This was a City of Syria, on the Borders of Canaam ; which was now fubjecl to the King of Ajjyria by a late Conqueftof it, XVI. 9. And from Sepharvait.~\ There is a City called Si- phara on the fide of which the River Euphrates run, not far from the Sea. From this Mixture of Nations, it was, that afterward there hapned fuch a Confu- fion of Laws, and Manners, and Rites of Religion, as was in this Country. And placed them in the Cities of Samaria, in /lead of the Children ef Ifrael, and they pofleflecl SamarJt.~\ That is, the whole Country, wherein the ten Tribes formerly dwelt. And dwelt in the Cities thereof?] Which were not deftroyed, Ifuppofe, but left ftanding: WithaDe- fign to fend new Inhabitants into them. tie Snond Boo\ of KINGS. 5,5 Ver. 15. And it root fo, at the beginning of their Chapter dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD : there- XVI!. fire the LORD fent Lions among them , which flew fame UO^Wl of them."] And did not the Israelites alfo want theVerfe 25. Fear of the LORD, as Abarbinel here notes, and yet were not devoured by Lions? To which he anfwers, that though the Ifraelites alfo ferved Idols, yet they did not deny the Divine Power and Providence: But imagined thefe Idols to be the intermediate Caufes by which the Divine Influences might be conveyed unto them.- For it is plain Jeroboam did not deny the LOrVD (i JCzflgsXJII. 6.) but acknowledged his Power. But thefe new Inhabitants believed the Idols which they worlhipped to be true Gods : And therefore were deftroyed by Lions, becaufe they did not acknowledge the Power and Providence of God, over all inferiour Beings : Whofe Land this was 3 and hereby he vindicated his ancient Inheritance, and Pofleffion, tohimfelf. Ver. 26. Therefore they fpak? unto tfo King of Affy- Verfe 26. ria, faying, *h e Nations, which thou haft removed, and placed in the Cities of Samaria, know not the Manner of the God of the Land ; therefore he hath fent Lions a- mong them, and behold, they flay them : Etcanfe they know not the manner of the God of the Land."] They took the God of Ifrael to be of the fame kind with their own, Who affected a particular Country, and People, And would be honoured with peculiar Rites, which were acceptable to him, and none elfe. The Syrians had the fame Conceit of Topical Gods, as lobferved upon i Kings XX. 13. and fee below, xvm 3$. Ver. 27. Then the King of Ajjyria commanded^ fay* Verfe 27* ing, carry thither one of the Prieftt, whom ye brought from thence, and let them go and dwell there^ and let U u u 2 him A COMMENTARY upon Chapter hint teach them the manner of the God of the Land."] XVII.. The Jews in Pirke Eliefer^ Cap. XXXVHI. telJ the C/V\J Story thus ^ that the King of AffyrU called the Elders of Ifrael together, and faid : All the while you dwelt in the Land of Samaria^ it was not infefted with Lions: What is the reafon that my People are de- voured by them?. To which they anfwered, Our Lord the King, this Land will not receive any un- circumcifed Nation : Let two of you go then, re- plied the King, and circumcife them, and teach them the Book of the Law. So R. Dojith*#** , and therefore this Prieftin- ftrufted them without Book ; Only by Tradition. Which, the Second Bool^.bf KINGS. Which is not probable $ for they would have had Chapter little regard to him, if he had not produced the Au- XVII. thorityof that holy Book delivered to themJby that v-^v^^ great Law-giver Mofes the Man of God. For that he taught them the right way of worQiipping God, ao cording to the Law, as it was pra&ifed in Judah, is very likely, Being fenfible that God abhorred the other Wor (hip which Ifrael praftifed $> for which he. had thrown them out of their.Land. Ver. 29. Hvwbeit, every Nation made Gods of their Verfe ..29 own, and put them in the, Houfet of the high places ^ which tke Samaritans had txade: every*. Nat.iov iu-their. Cities* wherein they dwelt ,~\ It Teems , the People -of Jf- . raet, who are here called Samaritans^ had built little Temples in the high Places : Whe.reiq thefenew In-r habitants wormipped the Gods of the Country from which they came (that is, thzGods of Ajjyria., XXVII, * 7.) together with the God of IfraeL Ver. 3.0. And the. Men. of Babylon *wde Snccoth-br* Verfc h^] The Jewifh Doftors do but trifle in, their Ex- pofition in this word, which they fay fignifies an Hen and Chickens. . The word plainly imparts the Taber- nacles f Daughters^ or of young. hH&idens: Who were confecrated tvPenttf, whofe Name Mr. Selden proba^ bly conieclures ^^ was derived from Benoth* The old i Idolaters, it is evident, did proftitute their Daughters ia Honour of Venn*, as not only Strabp, Herodotus^,, and other profane Writers teftify ^ but fome think is ; fuggefted in holy Scripture, XIX. Lev, 29- And, therefore they of Babylon are faid to make the Taber- nacles of Daughters, that is, Chappels wherein their Daughters were proftituted to every one that came- to wormip Venus, as the manner was in whence the fore-named Authors teftify A COMMENTS KY * Chapter had its Original. See Seldende Din Syrh Syntag. 2. XVII. Cap. 7. And Votfiw de Idolatr. L ^. Cap. 12. And the Men ofCuth made Nergal.~] Which the Jews would have to fignify a Cock- But their Conje&ure is better, who think it fignified Fire. For the Men oltitth are thofe that were afterward called Perjians :' Who it is certain anciently worfhipped the Fire. See Seldea, Cap. 8. But the famous Bochartu* ingenuoufly confefles, he doth not know what Nergal was : But that there is a fort of Palm Tree calJed Nergil> by the Perjians, Arabians , and Indians, of which they report ftrange things. From whence perhaps the Perjians gave the Name of Nergal to this Idol, as in Syria, their God was called Riwntonfrom the Pomegranate. Hierozoicon. P42. Lib.\. Cap. XVI. And the Men of Hamath made Afhtntah.'} I know no ground the Jews have to fay, this word Afiitnah fig- nifies a fmooth Goat. Our great Selden modeftly ac- knowledges he doth not know what God it was. lb. Cap. IX. But a late Author takes Ajhwia to be the fame with Mars : Becaufe among the Ancients A S fignified the fame with "Af^ among the Greeks, and Schetnah is as much as hearing or obedient, Jo. Gen- fw de Vi&imis Humanif^ P. I. p 92. And this AS he conje&ures is the fame, whom the Romans called Hefiv, whom Lucan mentions in his PharfaliandTartach.]V*xfc No body knows what thefe were: For no Credit is to be given to the Jews, who fay the former was in the fhape of a Dog, and the other of an Afs. Selden thinks they were the fame Idol called by different Names 5 but was not able to give an account of them. And the Sepbarvaites burnt their Children in the f re to Adramelcch, and Anamelech the Gods ofSepharvaitM.] Thefe were the fame Gods with Moloch: Unto whom the fame Sacrifices were offered. The Jews after their vain Fancies make one of them to have been in the Form of a Peacock^ and the other of a Pheafant : But in all Probability they were but different Names of Moloch, which was the Sun, as is evident from XXIII. 10, ii. And the Addition of Addir, which fignifies magnificent or potent makes Adramlech, as much as the mighty Moloch. And of Ana, which fignifies to anfwer, makes Anamdech as much as Oracular Mohch. For Moloch, and Melech t and Mttcom, are all the ve- ry fame in the Language of different People, fignify- ing a King: The Sun being by them accounted the Ki*g r as the Moon the Queen cf Heaven. And there is nothing more known than that the Gentiles burnt their Children in Sacrifice to him. But whether thefe People did fo, or orily made them pafs 'through the fire to purify them, may -be queftioned : Though the words feem to import the former: Which was the Praftice of the Phaznicians^ Syrians, Tytians^ Car* ihAgint*ttS) Cretianf) Arabians, and olany other Na- tions -. M M E N T A R Y Chapter tions : And is dill pradiiied by the Americans, and XVff. other Gentiles. L/*VX^ A Learned Writer of our own Dr. Hyde, in the : Book before- mentioned, hath a quite different Ap- prehenfion of thefe words. For he will have Adra- ^melech to figniry the King of the Flock, Adre being as much as Greges : And Anawelech he thinks is much of the fame Signification, An A being as much as Pe- cut in the Per/tan Language } always Signifying col- ledYively in the Plural Number, the lefier Cattle, Sheep and Goats. Of which he imagines thefe Gods 'had the Care, and were therefore wor (hipped, the Riches of thofe People confifting much in Cattle. They were alfo Coeleftial Conftellations (as he there obferves) which they imagined promoted the Breed- ing and Growth of Cattle. Verfe 32. Ver. 92. So they feared the LORD.'] Worfhipped the LORD God of Ifrael. And made unto themfelves of the lon>eft of them Priefts oftfo high Placet, which facrifced for them in the Hou- fes of the high Places.'] I fuppofe thefe Sacrifices were offered to the God of Ifrael, but in high places, and by Priefts of their own making. As for their Sacri- fices to the Gods of their fereral Countries, no doubt they brought Priefts along with them, to perform the Service belonging to them. Vcrfe 33. Ver. 33. They feared the LORD, andferved their own Gods ^ after the manner of the Nations, whom they carried away from thence.~] That is, after the manner of the ten Tribes, who worlhipped the LORD, and the Golden Calves together with him, and fometimes Baal, and other Gods, v. 16. Verfe 34. Ver. 54. Unto this day they do after the former win- ners : they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their Statutes, or tftcr their Ordinances, or after the Law the Second BJO^ of K I N G S. 5 a l and. Commandment , which the LORD command- Chanter ed the Children of Jacob, whom he named lfrael.~\ Thefe, C^>^NJ and the following words, give an account of the XVII. Children of Ifrael $ who being carried captive out of their own Land ("as hath been related) were not at all amended thereby $ but ftill neglected all the Laws which God had given them, and did not worlhip him alone: And therefore in truth they feared not the LORD. Ver. 95. With whom the LDRD had wade a Covt- Verfe 37. nant, and charged them, fy**g-> ye ftatt not fear other Godt, nor bow yottrfelves to them^ norferve them, nor fjcrifice to them7\ Whofe fins he aggravates (and thereby juftifieshis fevere Proceedings againft them) by repreienting them as a feledr. People, who were in a ftrict and gracious Covenant with him, Oblig- ing them not to (how the leaft refpeft to any other God, but himfelf. Vcr. 36. Bat the LORD who brought you up out ofV&fk 36, the Land of Egypt, with great Power, and a flretched ott Arm, him Jhall ye fear, and him foal/ ye worfiip^ atd to him {bail ye do Sacrifice.] This was a Benefit, one would think, that fhould never have been for- gotten ^ btit eternally engaged them to his Service, Who delivered them from fo vile a Slavery. Ver. 57. And the Statutes, and t/x Ordinances, and Vcrie 37 tie Law, and the Commandment, which he wrote for you, ye foall obferve to do for evermore^ and ye /ball not fear other Gods, T) This is repeated again, being fo very often mentioned in the Book of the Law, that they fhould worihip no other God. Ver. 38. And ihe Covenant that I have made BvfAVcrfe . you, ye hull not forget, neither fhall ye fear other Gods."] Which was the principal thing in the Covenant. X x x Vcr, 3 j. 52* A COMMENT ART upon Chapter Ver. 39. But the LORD your God ye {hall fear, and XVII. he jhall deliver you out of the hand of all your Enemies \~] ^~v~^s As he did, whenfoever they renounced Idolatry, and Verle 39. proroifed to worftiip him alone : As we read through- out their whole Hiftory in thefe holy Books. Verfe 40. Ver. 40. Horvbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner."] They foon revolted, when they folemnly protefted to repent : And did juft as they had done before, as the fame Books teftify. Verfe 41. Ver. 41. So thofe Nations feared the LORD, and fervid their graven Images^ both their Children, and their Children s Children : of did their Fathers, fo do they unto this day.~\ Juft thus did the Nations who came in their room into the Country of Samaria: They joined their own Gods with the LORD God of Ifrael, and continued fo to do $ they and their Pofterity, unto the time this Book was written : And long after. For as Mr. Mede hath obferved, this Medley of Religions lafted above three hundred Years till towards the end of the Pcrfiatt Monarchy. At which time Manafle, Brother to Jaddtt the high Prieft of the Jews ( that were returned to their own Land) married th Daughter of Sanballat Governour of Samaria. And after his Example, other Jews of the beft Rank having married ftrange Wives, con- trary to the Law, and being loath to leave them, be- took themfelves thither alfo$ whom Sanballat enter- tained, and made his Son-in-law their Prieft. And when Alexander the Great fubdued the Per/tan Monar- chy, he obtained leave of him to build a Temple up- on Mount Qcrizim, where Manaffeh exercifed the Of- fice of high Prieft. This was very prejudicial to the jfiw, and the occafion of a Schifm $ whilft thofe who were difcontenred or excommunicated at Jertt- /&*, were wont to run hither. Yet by this means the the Second Eoo\ of K I N G S, the Samaritans (havmg gotten one of the Sons of Chapter Aaron for their Prieft, and fo many Jews being ming- XVII. led among them) were brought to throw away all their falfe Gods, and worlhip the God of Ifraelonly. Yet fo, that though they feemed to therafelves to be the true Wormippers of God, they retained a fmack of Idolatry : Worfhipping God under a vifible Re- prefentation, viz. that of a Dove. Juft as their Pre- deceflors, the ten Tribes, worfhipped the fame God under the Similitude of a Calf, Beokl. Difcourfe XIII. And indeed this Inclination to have fome fenfible R.e- prefentation of God was fo Univerfal : That they who had none, were thought by the Gentile World to wormip nothing. Chapter CHAP. XVIII. XVIII. \^-v^~* Verfe 1 .1VT W it came to pafs in the third Tear ipforufM. But there is a great and good Man of our own, who having indeavoured to (how that the DeftrucYion of the old Serpent the Devil, was fore- (had do wed by the lifting up the Brazen Serpent in the Wildernefs, concludes that Hezekiah was moved with the greater Indignation againft the Worfhipof it,becauiein truth it never was a Type of our Saviour and Redeemer, but a Figure of his grand Enemy. This made him exprefs fuch Deteftation of it, as is imported he thinks in the word Nehufhtan. The Signification of which is not to be found in our Lexicons : For though Ne- cbofljeth fignify no more than Brafs, yet Nehttfhtanim- ports no lefs than our Englifh words* foul Fiend^ the old Dragon, or Satan. See Dr. Jackfon, HumiliatiiHt of the Son of God, Chap. XXXI.Paragr.6. Ver. 5. He trufled in the LORD God of IfraeQVevfe 5.; And not in the help of foreign Forces, as his Fa- ther Ahaz, did (XVI. 7.) nay, which that good King Afi called into his Afiiftance, i Kings XV. . 18, 19. So that after him was nvnt like him among all the* Kings of Judah, nor any that was before him~\ Since the time that the Kingdoms ofjvdab and Ifrael were divided, Ver. fo. 52 $ A CO MMENT4 RT H?O* Chapter Ver. 6. For he clave to the LORD, and departed XVII I. *rt f rom following him : hut kept hit Commandments^ L/'VN^ which the LORD commanded Mofes.~] He continued Verfe 6. to obferve God's Laws through the whole Courfe of his Reign, to the Conclulion ot it : And did not like fomeor his Predeceflbrs, who began well, but fell off in the end of their days, as Joafb, and Amaziah did, XII. 2. XIV. 3. 2 Chron. XXIV. 2, 19. XXV. 14. Verfe 7. Ver. 7. And the LORD w;kiah XVIII. did, in cutting off the Golden Plates, mentioned iir L*^"V\J the next Verfe. See Selden de Synedr. Lib. 3. Cap. F. N.IV. And in the Treafures of the Kings Hottfe."] Which had been fo exhaufted before, that he was forced to raife the Money by other means, as it follows, v. 1 6. Ver. 1 6. At that time did Hezekfuh cut of the Gold Verfe 16. from the Doors of the Temple of the LORD, and front the Pillars which Hezekiah King ofjttdah had overlaid, and gave it to the King of Ajfyria^ It is very probable, that when Ahaz defaced the Temple, and (hut up the Doors of it (XVI. 17. 2 Chron. XXXIlf. 24.) he cut off this Gold $ which Hezekiah took care to repair : But was now conftrained to cut off himfelf. Upon which words Procopiw Gaz&tts feems to me to have very well obferved : That Hezekiah finding he had not fufficient Treafure of his own, to anfwer the Impofition laid upon him, was driven by Neceflity to make ufe of things facred 5 left the Enemy mould bum the City and the Temple. But what was thus employed, pious Kings were wont to reftoreas foon as they were able, out of the Spoils of War, when it was ended. Ver. 17. And the King of Affyria, fent Tartan^ and Verfe 17- Ralfarit, and Rob- Jhakeh front Lachift to King Hcze- ktah^ with a great Hofl again/I Jerttfalem ; and they went up and came to Jerufalew."] Some of the Jewt think, that Sentcherib having received the Tribute from Hezelqah^ went to his own Land : But becaufe Hezekjah did not continue to fend it every Year, after . fome time returned to Jud they came and flood by the Conduit of the upper Pool, which H in the high way of the Fullers Field.] They took up their head Quar- ters, as we now fpeak, by the Conduit or Canal, into which Water was derived from the upper FiQY pond, or Pool : Which was in the high way to the Field, where the Fullers, after they had wafhed their Clothes in that Pool, were wont to fpread them. Verfe 1 8. Ver. 18. And when they bad called to the King."] They were fo bold as to demand Audience of the King himfelf ; that they might treat with him in Per- fon for a Surrender. There came out to them EUakim the Son ofHilkiah^ which was over the Houfcold, and Shebna the Scribe, tndjsah tbe Son of Afapb the Recorder."] Though he would not vouchfafe to go himfelf, yet he fent his Major Domo , as they now fpeak, and his Secretary^ or a Principal Doftor of the Law, and the Mafter of tbe Reqttefts. For fince the King of Affyria fent three Meflengers, he thought fit to fend as many. Ifaiak indeed mentions only Rab-fakeh, as fent by the King of Aflyri* A Which Seder Olam Rabba thinks is meant of the firft Legation : But in the fecood when he be- feged the Second Bool^ (/KINGS. \ ficged Libnah (XIX. 8.) he joyned Tartan^ and Rab- Chapter fait with him. It is very uncertain what Officer XVIII. Shebna was; for he is faid, XXII. Ifa. 15. to be over \>"V^^ the Houfe, and the LXX. fometime make him Trea- fvrer, fometime Scribe, and Mr. Selden thinks he might be $r and Horfe- wtn7\ With which Egypt abounded above ruoft other Countries $ who fometimes furnifhed the Jfraelitcf with Horfes, but none like Egypt. For which rea- fon Mofts forbids them to multiply Horfes, left it fbould caufe them to return to Egypt, XVIL Dv#t+ 1 6. and the Prophet reproves them feverely for go- ing to Egypt for help, and ftaying upon Horfes, &c. XXXI. Ifa. 1.3. Ver. 25. Am I now come up without the LORD a- gainft this place to deftroy it ? the LORDfaid unto me, Go ftp againft this Land and deftroy it.~] If he had not been a Jen?, yet he had learnt the Name of their God :. And pretended his Matter was come up againft Jertt- ftletft, by aCommiuion from him. Which were vain Words ("as he calls Hezekjah\ v. 20*) for there wa& none of his Prophets among the djjyrians. But per- haps he concluded from what the A$ri*n King A C M M E N T A R Y nfon Chapter done to Samaria God intended he mould do fo to . XVIII. Jerufalem. L/"N^W Ver. 26. Then faid Elitism the Son ofHilkiah, and Verfe O, $*}**, and Joah, unto Rab-fhakeh, faying, Speak. 1 fray thee unto thy Servants in the Syrian Language, for we understand it : and fpeak not with us in the Jew Language, in the Ears of the People, that are on the Wal/J] fuppofe Eliakjm perceived the People to be frighted with his big words, and therefore intreated him, in the Name ot the other Commiilioners fent to treat with him, to fpeak no longer in the Jews Lan- guage, but in his own : For he was not fent to treat with the People, but with them, who underftood the Syrian Tongue very well. Vdfe 27. Ver. 27. But Rab-foakeh faid unto them, Hath my Mafter fent nte to thy Mafter, and to thee to fpeak theje words ? Hath he not fent me to the Men that fit on the Wall, that they may eat their own Dung, and drin^ their own Pift with yon /] To make them know, that he will reduce them to the greateft Extremity, if they do not fubmit unto him. For it is an Hyperbolical Speech, importing fuch ftraitsas were never known. Vcrfe 28. Ver. 28. And Rob fbakeh flood and cried with a loud Voice in the Jews Language^ and fpake faying -, Hear the words of the great King, the King of Ajjyria.~] He feems to have raifed both himfelf, and his Voice high- er , that he might be better heard by all. Vcrfe 29. Ver. 19. Thus faith the King, let not H<.zekj*h de- ceive you, for he fljatt not be able to deliver you out of t*y hand.~] He repeats with the greateft Aflurance, tht Power of his King, and the Weaknefs of He&ekiah : Rcprefenting from thence, how they were de- luded with empty Promifes, if he perfvvaded them he ftiould be able to preferve them. !... \ Ver. 30. . the Second Book, of K 1 N G S. Ver. 30. Neither let Hezek/ah make you truft in Me Chapter LORD, fifing, the LORD witt furely deliver ut, And LX^V^ this City Jhall not be delivered into the hand of the King XVIII. of Ajjyria.} This was the higheft Preiiimption, to Verfe 30. peri wade them not to place their Hope in God : As if his Matter was ftronger than he. Ver. 3 1. Hearken not to Hezekjah, but wak? an Agree- Verfe 2 r ntent with me by a Prejent^ and c6me out to we, and then eat ye every Man of his oven Vine, and every one of his frig-tree, and drink^ye every one the Haters of his Crjiern.'] Having reprefented to them the Miferies un- to which a Siege would reduce them, he invites them to a Surrender, upon advantageous Conditions. Ver. 32. "Until I come \ and take you away to a Land Verfe 32. like your own Land, a Land of Corn and \\ ine> a Land ; of Bread and Vineyards , a Land ofOyl olive ^ and of Honey 5 that ye maj live and not die : and hearken not to Hezekiab, when he perfwadeth you^ faying, the LORD will deliver iff.'] If they would feek the Fa- vour of the King of Affyria^ by making him a Pre- fcnt, and delivering themfelves up to his Mercy 5 he promifes they (hould be tranfported to a better Coun- try, than that to which the Israelites were carried : And in the mean time, every one enjoy his o*n Pof- feilions. But he was afraid Hezekzah's avowed Con- fidence in God, would prevail with them, to truft to him for Deliverance, which make him fo often defire them not to depend upon that. Ver. 33. Hath any of the Gods of the Nations deli-Vctk 33* vered out all his Land, out of the hand of the King of djjyriaf] He argues very popularly and ftrongly, if his Suppofition had been true: That the God of If- rael, the God of the whole Earth (yea, of Heaven and Earth) was like thofe of all other Nations, who prefided only over one Country, or City. Z z z Ver. 34. 538 A COM ME NT4KY Chapter Ver. 3 4. Where are the Gods of Ham at h^ and Arpad>~\ XVIII. Thofe were Cities or Countries, which the King of v-^-v^^ Ajfyria had conquered. Verfe 34. Where are the Gods of Sepkervaim . Verfe 3$. Ver. 35. Who are they among all the Gods of the Countries, that have delivered their Country out of my hand) that the LORD jhotild deliver Jerttfalem ojtt of my hand ?~] He defires an inftance of one God, that had been able to fave his Country, when his Matter invaded it : And therefore it was bed for them to yield their City up to him, (ince God himfelf could not preferve it, unlefs he could do more than any other had done, which he concluded was unlikely. It muft be acknowledged that Rab-fhakeh was an ex- cellent Orator, as well as a Soldier: Not inferiour in Eloquence to Julittt C#far. Verfe 36. Ver. 36. But the People held their Peace, and anfwtr- ed him not a word .- For the Kings Commandment was, faying, Anfwer him not.] This was a very wife Order, becaufe he might have made fome Advantage by a fudden Anfwer $ and it was no lefs pious : For Heze kiah believed God would anfwer for himfelf, not in words, but in fuch Deeds, as would demonftrare he was above alt Gods. Verfe 37. Ver. 37. Then came Eliak}jnthe SonofHilkjah which was over the Houjbold, and Shebna the Scribe, and Joah the Son of Afafb the Recorder to Hezekjah with their Clothe* the Second Boo\ of KINGS. Clothes rent : and told hint the words of Rab-f/ja^h.'] Chapter It was the Cuftom of the Jews to rend their Clothes, XVIII. when they heard a Man blafpherre God's Name. And if we will believe them, when the Witneffes of a Blafphemy did but repeat the words before the Judges 5 they renf their Clothes. Accordingly He- zetyah, when his Cornmillioners gave an account of Rah fiakeh's words to him, he did ibXTX. r. But they have determined, that they were not bound to rend their Clothes, unlefs he were an Ifraelite that blafphe- med. Therefore they have refolved, as I faid before, that Rat-fhakeh was an Apoftate Ifraelite. And this Cuflom was common to all Nations (as appears from Homer ^Herodotus and Virgil) who exprefied great Grief in this manner. Chapter CHAP. XIX, xiX. Verfe I. \ND it catxe to pafs when King Hezefyah Verfe I, x"\ heard /*, that he rent his Clothes.'] See the 1 aft Verfe of the foregoing Chapter. And covered himfelf with Sackcloth, and went into the Hffufe of the LORD.'] He fafted and mourned, and went into the Temple to pray. Sometimes they put on Sackcloth next to their Skin, infte^d of a Shirt : But here it feems to fignify only, that he was clothed in this vile Habit, in token of his great Trouble and Sorrow. Ver. ^. And he fent Eltakjm which WM over the Verfe 2 Houfiold, and Shebtta the Scribe.~] See XVIII. 18. And the Elders ofthePriefls.'] The principal Per- fons among the Pricfts. Z z z 2 Covered A COMMENT AKr nfon Chapter Covered with Sackcloth to Ifaiah the Prophet , the Son XIX. of AIM**.'] In the fame mournful Habit, to beg his L/*Wi Prayers to God for them. Verfe 3. Ver. 3. And they fad unto him^ Thtff faith Heze /yah, this day if a. day of Trouble^ and of Rebuke^ and Blaf- $hemy?\ They reprefent to him the great Straits in which they were, and the Reproaches caft upon them : And (which was worft of all) the Blafphemy they had heard again ft God. For the Children are come to the Birth, and there if not Strength to bring fort hJ] And the prefent Danger wherein they were of periming, unlefs fpeedily re- lieved : Like that of a Woman, whofe Child being fallen down, after many throws, to the Place of Birth 5 (he was fo fpenr, that (he had no Strength left to bring it forth. Or, as Procopiw Gaz**t ex- pounds it, We are in fain to hear fetch Blafyhemottt Words, and have no Power to puijh thofe wicked Wret- ches as they deferve. Verfe 4. Vr. 4. It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Ral-jbakeh."] So as to take notice of them, and punifh him. Whom the King of Ajjyria hath fent to reproach the Hying God .* and will refrove the words , which the LORD thy God hath heard."] Reprove him for the words (as the Targnm expounds it) which he had fpoken againft God. But Lud. de Dieu following .R. Solomon Jarchi^ thinks that word we tranflare re- prove, fignifies to prove, and by Arguments to de- monftrate. And ib refers it to Rab-fljakeh in this manner. It may be the LORD wiD hear all the words of Rab'foakeh, whom the King of AJJyria hath fent to reproach the living God : and that openly whh a bold Face, fearing nothing becattfe all things fitcced accor- ding ) the Second Bool^ of K I N G S. ding to their Hearts dejire. And he faith he (hall Chapter wonder if this Senfe difpleafe any Body. XIX. Wheref&re lift up thy Prayer for the remnant that is %^-V*^ left.'] That judah might not be carried captive, as Ifrael had been. Ver. 5. So the Servants of King Hezekiah came toVerfe fc Ifaiah] And delivered the foregoing Meflage to hi in. , Ver. 6. And Jfaiah faid unto t he m, Thw Jhatt ye fap.Verfe 6. to your Mafter, Thut faith the LORD, be not afraid of the words which thon haft heard ; with which the Ser- vants of the King of AJJyrta have blafphemed me. Ver. 7. Behold,, I will fend a blaft on htm,'] A Pefti- Verfe ;>. lential Blaft, which deftroyed his Army in one Night, v, 35. Others translate it a Spirit \ which is the fame : For God fent an Angel, who fmote them with, that Pefti Jence. And he fljall. hear a Rnmour^ and [hall return to -hit own Land?] The Report perhaps was renewed after that Stroke, that Tirhakah (of whom he had heard before, v. 9 .) was coming againft him ^. Which made him hafte away, with the fmall remains of his Aj- my, to his own Country. And [will cattfe him to fall by the fword> in hit own? Land,"] Which was fulfilled, v. 37. Ver. 8. So Rab-jhakeh returned^ Not with the Hofft Vtrfe ^. that he brought with him (XVIII. 17.) but he him- felf returned to give his Mafter an account of what he had done : And left Rab-faris to carry on th& Siege, and ftraiten the City, till he could come with the whole Armv againft it. And fouvd the King of Ajjyria warring agahtfl Lib* nah : for he had heard that he wot departed from La? cbijh."] Being unable, I fuppofe, to make himfelf Ma-- fter of it. A C M M N I A K Y npoa Chapter Ver. 9. And when he heard fay ofTirhakahKingof XIX. Ethiopia, he is come out to fight againft thee.~] Whether ^ /-VNJ he fought with Tirhakah, or no,- and what the Suc- Verfe 9. cefs was doth not appear. But it is to be noted, that there were two Countries called Cujb (which we tranilate Ethiopia) one in Africa beyond Egypt : The other in Arabia, which is the Ethiopia here meant. For the Ring of the other was far off, and muft have marched through Etypt before he could come to fight with Senache'rib. But this was near, and was able to raifea powerful Army, as appears by the vaft Forces which Zarah brought again ft Afa\ 2 Chron. XIV. 9. And thus the i-Chron. XXI. 16. as Bcchartus obferves, muft neceflarily be nnderftood, where the Arabians whom God ftirred upagainft Jehoraw, are faid to be near to the Ethiopians : Which cannot be true of thofe beyond Egypt. See his Phaleg^ Lib. IV. Cap. 2. He fet MeJJengers agaitt to' Hezctyah, frfxg-~] A- mong which Rab-fhakeh was the chief. V'crfe IG. Ver. TO. Thusfliallyefpea^to He%ekjah King ofju- dah, fying.~] They could not come to the Speech of him : But fenc him a Letter containing the words fol- lowing, v. 14. Let not thy God in whom thou trufteft deceive thee, faying, JerufalemJJjall not be delivered into the hard of the King of AJfyria'} He had heard, 1 fuppofe, that Hezekiah declared he trufted in the LORD, and had Aflurance from him, that he the Ring of Sjfyria (hould not prevail againft him. Verfe il. Ver. II. Behold thou hsft heard rrhat the King of Ajjyria hath done to all I ands^ by deftroyin* the iff ut- terly^ This Letter is of the fame import with the for- mer Mefifage, prefuming the God of Ifrnel wgs like the Gods of other Countries, and had no more Pow- er than they to preferve his Wormippers. And tke Second Ewl^of KING S. Andflult thou be delivered?*] Such Quefdons im- Chapter ply a ftrong Denial : And therefore it is as much as XIX. to fay, thou (halt be delivered no more thaa they were. Ver. 12. Have the Gods of the Nations delivered Verfe them which my Fathers have deflroyed . Verfe 1 6. Ver. 1 6. LORD bow down thine Ear and bear, open LORD thine Eyes and fee , and hear the words of Sena* cherib) which hathfent hint to reproach the living God.] That is, fent Rah fliakfh. He fpeaks in fuch Language as Men ufe, when they earneltly befeech others not to negleft their Supplication ^ but vouchfafe to at- tend, and to give a gracious Anfwer to them. Vcrfc 1 7. Ver - l 7-0f a truth* /-O.R0, the Kings of AJJyrit have deflroyed the Nations^ and their Lands."] Do not boaft of more than they have done. Verfe 18. Vcr. 18. And have caft their Gods into the f re : for they were no Gods, bnt the Work^ of Mens hands, Wood And Stone ; therefore have they deftroyed thent.~] They had prevailed, he acknowledges, over their Gods, as well as over Men : But it was becaufe they were not fo good as Men } being mere Wood and Stone. Verfe 19. Ver. 19. Now therefore, LORD our God, J befeech thee^ fave thou us out of his hands, that all the King- doms of the Earth may kpow that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.~] He befecches him to diftinguifli himfelf from thofe Idols $ by giving them (uch a De- liverance as might demonftratc to all the World that he was the Living God (as he oft calls them) Supe- riour the Second Bool^ of KINGS. *,- riour to all others, who were not able to fave their Chapter Worfhippers. ^IY Ver. 20. Theft Jfaiah the Son of Atxoz fent to Heze- cy\TVJ kjah, faying, Thvt faith the LORD Godoflfrtel, that Verfe 2O. which thou haft frayed to nte againft Senacherib King of AJJyria^ I have heard."] He knew by the Spirit of Pro- phecy, that Hezefyah had reprefented his cafe to God in the Temple: Who bid Jfaiah aflure tym his Petition was granted. Ver. 21. This it the Word that the LORD hatbfpo-V^k. 21. ken concerning him 3 the Virgin the Daughter of Sion hath defpifed thee, and laughed thee to fcorn 5 the Daughter of Jerufaletn hath Jbak$d her head at thee."} Thefe words comprehend the whole City. For by the Daughter of Sion he means the People that inha- bited the upper part of the City, where the King's Palace ftood : And by the Daughter ofjerufale^ the People of the lower part of the City 5 and all that was not comprehended under the Name of &' When I have gone, even with my Chariots in great number to the top of high Mountains : To Lebanon it felf, through the moft difficult Pafiages, which I have o- pened and plained for them ? Who (hall hinder me from cutting down its talleft Cedars and Fir-trees (perhaps he means their Princes and great Men) and when I have done, from marching and taking up my Quarters in the extreameft Borders of the Land, climbing up to the top of Carntel ( which was to- wards the Mediterranean Sea) orentring into all the fruitful Places of the Country, by making an entire Conqueft of it. For fo Carmtl often fignifies not a Mountain, but a fruitful Field in the Language of this Prophet, X. Jfaiah 18. XVI. 10. Verfe 24 Ver. 24. I have digged , and drunk ft range Waters."] He braggs that he had marched with his vaft Army through ftrange Countries, and in the drieft Places : Where it was thought his Army would die with Third ^ but he digged till he found Water. And the Second Book, of K [ N G S. 547 And with the fobs of My Feet have I dried up aU /& Chapter Rivers of bejieged Places.^ This is commonly thought XIX. to fignihe, that he had gone dry- (hod with his whole Army over great Rivers $ whofe Streams he turned another way : And fo had taken the ftrongeft For- tifies, furrounded with deep Waters, and great Ramparts. But B&chartut hath made a plainer Para- phrafe upon thefe words, which he thus tranflates, / have dried up the Rivers of Egypt. As much as to fay, / will enter as ea/iiy into Egypt , in which you con- fide, as ;/, when I come thither , all the Rivers where- with it if invironed (honld be dried up. See his Hiero- zoicon, P. 2. Lib. V. Cap. XV. For the Hebrew word Mafer (which we translate every where bejieged Pla- ces , or Defences, or Fortreffes) (hould rather be ta- ken for the fingular Number of Meferai**, which by Contraction is called Miteraittt, that is, Egypt. And if this be allowed, the Senfe then here is as I faid before, / have dried up all the Rivers of Egypt : Which was the higheft Vaunt he could make of his Power, and numerous Forces. Thus XIX. Ifaiah 6. The Brooks of Defences jhaU be dried p, is interpreted by Kintchi, the Rivers of Egypt fhatt be emptied and dried up. And more plainly, VII. Micah 12. where from the Fortrefs to the River is fo obfcure, that it is not to be underftood, bui from Egypt to Euphrates is foch clear Senfe, that one cannot but think, it (hould be fo tranflated : For thofe were the Bounds of the Land of Canaan. Ver. 25. Haft thou not heard long ago how I dont, and of ancient titties that I have formed it ?] Thefe are the Words of God, in anfwer to thofe em- pty Boafts. But what is this to what I have done > Haft thou not heard how I brought my People dry- (hod through the red Sea > How in ancient times, I A a a a 2 fay, 54 S A COMMEN np*n Chapter &y, l n g before thou or thy Anceftors were born, I XIX. did this by cny own Strength alone, without the U"VSJ help of Nature or Art > For fo the word Jatzar, which we tranflate formed, is ufed II. Gen. 8. and other Places. Now I have brought it to pafs, that thou Jhoutdft be to lay waft fenced Cities into ruinous heaps."] And it ie I that have now brought thee to do all thtfc things of which thou braggeft; Thou could ft not have done one of them without my leave : Who therefore permitted it, that I might punim thofe Cities by thy hand, which I had devoted to Deftru&ion. See X.Ifaiah 5,6, 13, Mil*- Vffe a 6. Ver. 16. Therefore were their Inhabitants of ftuall Power ? they were diftnayed and confounded $ they were as the Graft of the Field, and as the gree* Herb ; and as the Grafs on the Houfe t&ps r and as Corn blafted be- fore it be grown up.~]> This was the reafon, that the People of thofe Cities whereof thou fpeakeft (v. i-a, 13.) were fo very feeble, and unable to oppole the : Becaufe I delivered them into thy hand. Verfe 17* Ver. 27. But I know thy abode, and thy going ot, and thy coming in, and thy Rage againft nte.] As much as to fay, there are none of thy Motions hidden from me.. For before thou cameft from thy own Country, I knew with what Defign thou marchedft out, and what thou hafldone fince wherefoever thou haft entred : And under ft and with what Rage and Fury thou art come up to deftroy my Dwelling- place. Verfe a 8. Ver. 38. Becattfe thy Rag* againft nte, and thyTu* t*nlt cowe up into my Ears^ I have heard the Noife thou makeft with thy furious Threatnings, and with thy great Army which hath entred Judta. Therefore the Second Book, of KINGS. Therefore will I put my Hook, in thy Nofe, and ry Chapter Bridle in thy Lips, and 1 will turn thee bac\ by the way XIX. that than came ft. ] He compares his abfolute Power w over him, to fhat of a Fimerman, who, let a Filh tumble ever fo much in the Water, hath it faft by a Hook he hath fixed in his Nofe: Or to a Man upon a Horfe or a Mule, whom he can turn which way he pleafe, when he hath a Curb in their Mouth. Even fo faith God will I do with thee, draw thee back, prefs thou ever fa much to compafs thy De- figns, into thy own Country, without any Suc- cefs. Ver . 2 9. And thit fmU be a fgn mto ttcej: This is Verfe fpoken to ffezekiab. Te fbaS eat thfr Yearfuch things as grow oftkewfelvet r and in thefecond Tear that whichfpringethofthefame: and in the third Tear, fow ye andreap and plant Vine* yards^ and eat the Fruit thereof."] This was not a fign of the Truth of his Prophecy, becaufe it was to come a^fter that was fulfilled : But a token, of God's extra- ordinary Favour and Love to them; whtnSenacfo- rib was gone$ and they were in fear of another Enemy, viz. a grievous Famine. For though he had trodden down or eaten up all the Corn with his Ar- my, yet they (hould find fufficient left to maintain* them this Year, which was the fourteenth of Heze* fob. And though the next were the Sabbatical Year, in which they were to let the Land reft, and neither fow nor reap : Yet he promifes enough mould grow up of it felf to fuftain them, without any Culture,, out of the Corn (cattered in the former Year. Ancfc then in the fixteenth Year God aifures them of Li- berty to till their Land as they were wont^ and that they mould fow and reap, as in a time of Peaces ; when no Enemy appeared, nor there was any fear o 55 o A COMMENT A KT upon Chapter of any. But until the Corn fprung up and was ripe XIX. that Year, they lived upon what grew of it felf in tyVVI the Sabbatical Year, without Tillage, Which demon- ftrates the wonderful Providence of God over this People, in taking care they (hould want nothing in thofe Years, without any care of their own, if they believed in his word. See XXV. Levlllcut^ where the Precept about this Sabbatical Year is delivered $ and wasobferved by this People, from the firftCon- queft and Divifion of the Land of Canaan XL VII. Years after the coming oat of Egypt. See Dr. Alix Reflections on the Old Teftament, Part 2. Chap. i. Verfe 20 ^ er * 3* ^ n ^ *^ e remnan * *kat if efcaped of the ' Hottfe of Judah, Jb*U yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward?] He purfues the Metaphor from Corn that is fown in the Ground . Signifying, that they (hould have firm Pofleffion of their own Coun- try; and therein increafe, and multiply, and flou- rifh exceedingly. Verfe \ I . ^ cr ' 3 * " out ofjerufalemJJjaUgoforth a remnant , and they that efiape, out of Mount Sion.~] For they who were now (hut up in Jerufalem (hould be at Li- berty: And they who efcaped the Enemies Fury in the Country, and fled thither for Refuge, (hould go out of Mount Sion, to their own Pofleffions. The Zeal of the LORD of Hofts JkaU do this.'] His great Love to his own Honour, and to his People, (hall do thefe Wonders : To vindicate his Glory from that Contempt which was caft upon it by $e- nacherib. Verfe 22. ^ er - $* Therefore thus faith the LORD, concerning the King of AJJ)ria, He /hall not come into this City^ nor/hoot an Arrow there, nor come before it with Shield^ nor caft a Bank again ft it."] He promifes the King of (hould be fo Far from penciling himfelf of the City the Second Boofyf KINGS. City at this time, that he (hould not a/Fault it, by Chapter (hooting fo much as an Arrow into it : No, nor ap- XIX. pear with his Army againft it, or raile Bulwarks to L/"V*W befiege it. Or, as the Hebrews underftand it, they (hould not caft a Stone out of their Engines againft it. Rab-farti, I obferved, v. 8. continued the Siege; but whatfoever he did before, after this Meflage of Ifaiah he made no Attempt upon them. Ver. 33. By the way that he came , by the fame */ Verfe 33. he [ball return; and he Jhall come into this City, faith the LORD.~] He confirms what he faid before, v. 28. Ver. 34. For I will defend this City tofave it."} To Verfe 34. preferve it from Deftrudion. For my own fake , and for my Servant David'sfefy.') Upon which account he had formerly fpared them, when they deferved to be punifhed, i Kings XI, 12, 13. Ver. 35. And it came to pafs that Night.} The Jew Verfe $$. in the Gemara Sanhedrim (Cap. XI. N. 2O.J fay, that in the very Night after they fet down before Jerufa- lem, and were fo wtary that they made no attempt upon the City, this which follows fell out. Others think it was the fame Night, that Hezefyah received Senacherib'% railing Letter. Which is more probable than the Opinion of our Dr. falcon, who will have it, that it was the fame Night, about two Years after, * Sec upon the Attributes, Seel:. III. Cap. 26. However it was, the Blow was the more remarkable, becaufe it was given in that very Night, wherein he had lifted up himfelf againft the God of Heaven.* As Bel- ftazzer afterwards did, and had his fatal Stroke gi- ven him in like manner. See V.Daniel 3,0. 552 A COMMENT A tir upon Chapter The Angel of the LORD went out, andfntote in the XIX Cantp of the Affyrians^ an hundred four f core and Jive L/"W> -thoufand Men: and when they wofe in the Morning^' behold, they were all dead CorpfesJ] By a Peftilentiai Difeafe, as Jofephus calls it, &OI/MMV v&nv, fuch a vaft Number were fuddenly cut off. It is a Queftion, whether this Deftrufrion was made in the Army that befiegcd Libnah, or in that Hoft which Rab-fljiik.h brought up aga'mft Jerufalem. Jofephw thinks the later, for it is probable Rab-Jbakph was come wkh his whole Hoft againft Jcrttfalem, which before was ftraitned by Rab-farit ; and ^7a rlw Tt^rTeu $ vm A/ofoct? ox7a, the firft Night after they had begirt the City (as the Jews fay I obferved in Sanhedrin) the Angel of the LORD tnade this great Slaughter among them, L X. Antiq. Cap. 2. where a little bo fore, in the end of the firft Chapter, he takes notice of an horrible Lye which Herodotus reports from the Egyptians : Who fay their King, being alfo a Prieft, by his Prayers to his God, brought this Deftru&ion upon the Aflyrians, as they lay before Pdujium : A great Army of Rats coming in the Night, and gnaw- ing all their Bow- firings in pieces, fo that they could not fight. So ftudious they were to pervert the Truth, and corrupt the Sacred Story, Vcrfe a6. ^ cr - 3^, So Senacherib King of Aflyria departed^ and went) .and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh^ Be- ing afraid that Ttrhakah (hould come and deftroy the Remainders of his broken Army, v. 9. Verfc 37. Ver. 37. And it came to pafs, of he wot worflripping in, the Boufe of Nifroch his God.} The LXX. here call this God ffeforach, and upon Jfaiah^ where this Story is again told, Afarach. But what any of thefe Names fignify, Mr. Selden acknowledges he cannot tell, ha- ying in all his reading, never met with any thing that the Second Book^ of KINGS. 553 that might explain it. But Kircher adventures to Chapter fay it was the Image of a Ship, reprefenting the Ark XIX. of Noah : the Reliques of which, Jofephu* tells us, fome reported were in his time, in the neighbouring Mountains of Armenia. And a later Writer Beyerus ( in his Additions to Selden de Diis Syris) thinks it iignifies as much as the hird of Noah, that is, a Dove, which was worlhipped by the AJfirians : Or, as others conjecture (for they can do no more) this Word is derived from Nes y which in Cbaldee figni- fies a Province, and Rac, which fignifies a King : that is, Jupiter the King, and Confervator of that Provioce. That Adrammelech and Sharezer his Sons f mote hint with the Sword."] Which they might the more eafily do, when he fufpefted no Danger. The Reafon of it was, becaufe in his danger ( we may fuppofe) he had vowed that he would offer them up unto his God. Therefore they Sacrificed him, to prevent be- ing Sacrificed themfelyes. One of them feems to hive been called after the Name of a God Worfhip- ped in rhofe Countries. XV. n. 31. And they efcaped into the Land of Armenia."] Which was not far off} and where there were Mountains of very difficult Afcent, and inhabited by a Warlike People. And Ffarhaddoft his Son reigned in his ft e ad. ~] Who was the Ring that fent a Colony to People the Country of Samaria ( as I obferved before from IV. Ezra 2.J and the rather, becaufe he feared Heze- kiah might take pofTeflion of it, after fuch a Defeat as his Father Senachcrib had received. His Name is curtailed feveral ways. For in the Book of Tobit he is called Sar-chedon I. 21. the firft Syllable of his Name being cut off: and the LXX. cut cfTthe next, - Bbbb calling 554 * COMMENTARY *pon calling him Afer-dan : and Ifaiah cuts off both, call- ing him Sargon, XX. Ifaiah i. Chapter xx - CHAP. XX. Verfe I. Verfe I .TN" thofe Days WAS Hezekiah Sick unto death. ] J. This is fee down after the Death of Sena- cherib : but with this general note only of the Time, wherein this Sicknets tell out, in thofe days. Which, as Primate Ujher obferves in his Annals, doth not re- late to what went juft before (to the time when the King of Affyria invaded the Land ) as is evident from v. 6. of this Chapter. Where he promifes to add Fifteen Years to his Life, and alfo to deliver him from the King of AJfyria. Which deliverance therefore was after this Sicknefs, which was in the latter end of his Fourteenth Year: To which if we add Fifteen, they make up the whole Twenty nine Years of his Reign. And the Prophet Ifarah the Son of AMOZ, came to him, And, f rid; Thus faith the LORD^ fet thy Houfe in or- der , for thoHJhalt die and not live. ] That is, his Dif- eafe was in its own Nature Mortal, and could nor be cured by any Humane Remedy. Therefore he wifht him to fettle his Eftate, and, as we fpeak, to make his Will ^ how all things in his Houfe (hould be dif- ., pofed, when he was dead. Verfe 2. Ver. i. Then he turned his Face unto the Wall^ ^nd prayed unto the LORD, faying.} That is, toward the Wall of the Sanctuary, as the Targum expounds it. See Dr. Hammond upon X. A&s. Annot. b. He thought as it was not beyond the Power of God to re- the Second Boo\ of K I N G S. 555 reftore him, fo he had nor peremptorily decreed that Chapter he mould die : But there was a tacit Condition in the XX. Meflage fas in other Cafes, III. Jonah 4.) otherwife w>/~^> he would not have prayed to be fpared. Ver. 3. / bejeech tkee, LORD, remember how /Verfe 3. have walked before thee in Truth, and with a perfeft Heart, and have done that which is good in thy Sight."] He was not Confcious to himfelf that he had omitted ' any thing which was to be done for the reftoring the true Woiftiipof God. In which he had been fo exaft, as to take away the High Places, which had continued ever fince the time of David, and none durft remove them. And therefore he prefumcd to beg that he might live to fettle, and eftablim what he had begun to do. And Hezekiah wept fore. ] One reafon was, as ma- ny think, that he had not as yet a Son to fucceed him on the Throne. For he lived after this Fifteen Year*} and when he died Manaffeh was but Twelve Years Old, who therefore was born after this Sicknefs. Ver. 4 And it came to pafs afore Ifaiah was gone out Verfe 4. into the middle Court, that the Word of the LORD came unto him, faying. ~] It is doubtful whether we are to underfhnd the middle of the Court of the Kings h'onfe, or the middle of the City : for the one is in the Text, the other in the Margin of the Hebrew Bibles. But it is not material which we follow, for the meaning is, that he was not gone far $ before he was ordered to go back and carry a New MefTage,that hi- Prayer was heard. Ver. 5. Turn a^ain^ and tell Hezefyah, the Captain Vtrfe 5" of my People, Thus faith the 1 ORD, the God of David thy bather, I have heard thy Prayer, and fecn thy Tears, behold I will heal thee : on the Third Day thou jba.lt go up unto the Hoafe of the LORD.'] Recover his (trength Bbbb fo A COMMENTARY npon Chapter fo feft, as to be able in three days time to go to the XX. Temple, and give God Thanks tor his Cure. Which L*^V*\j appears by this to have been Miraculous. Verfe 6. Ver. 6. And I will add unto thy Days Fifteen Tears."] More than he could have lived according to the courfe of Nature. And 1 will deliver this City out of the Hand of the King of AJJyria, and I will defend this City for my own fake, and for my Servant David's fake. ~] For this Sicknefs was that Year when he threatned to deftroy it. See upon, v. i. It was a great Incouragement to faithful Obedience, that God fo often mentions Da- vid's Services, with fuch a kind Remembrance of them. Verfe 7. Ver. 7. And Ifaiah faid, take a lump of Figs. And they took, and laid it on the Boil, and he recovered. ] There might be fome natural Vertue in this Cataplafm, to foften and ripen an hard Humour, as this feems to have been ( fome think a Plague (ore ) but it was a Supernatural Power, which made fo fpeedy a Cure : of which God ufed this a Sign. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And Hezekjah faid unto Ifaiah, what fliaU he the Sign, that the LORD will heal me, and that 1 JbaU go uf into the Houfe of the LORD the third Day .itt do the thing that XX. he hath fpoken. Shall the Shadow go forward ten De- v>^/^*- grees, or bacl^ ten Degrees ? ~\ Sometimes God who is Verfc 9. a Free Agent, intending to convince Men by great Wonders that he is to be believed, is fo gracioufly condefcending, as to give them leave tochufe what they would have him do, or when : That his Pow- er may be the more notorious, and no room left for doubting. So he did with Pharaoh, VIII. Exod. 9, 10. and with Ahaz. Vll. Ifaiah n. And here with his Son Hezefaab. Ver, 10. And Hezekjah faid^ it is a tight thing fir the Shadow to go down ten Decrees : Nay, but let the Shadow return backward ten Degrees. J It was compa- ratively fmall, becaufe to go forward was the natural Courfe of it : but to return back was a Miracle, both in the Thing, and in the manner of it. Ver. n. And Jfaiah the Prophet cried wtto ftfe Verfe- ii LORD, and he brottght the Shadow ten Degrees back' ward, by which it had gone down in the dial of A- haz.~] It is obferved by many Modern Interpreters, that there is not a Word here fpoken concerning the Sun's going back 5 but only of the Shadow upon the Dial : which might by the Power of God go ei- ther forward or backward, the Sun ftill holding its Courfe, as it was wont to do. And the Degrees or Lines in the Dial may fignifie other Hours, or half Hours, or as fome think, Quarters. See Ptyfivt de Orig. & Progrejfit Idol. Lib. II. Cap. IX. Now the go- ing back being three times mentioned in this Chap- ter, and always fpoken of the Shadow ; therefore they conclude the Miracle was wrought upon the Di- ai only ^ not upon the very Body of the Sun. It is indeed, in the ..XXXVIII. IfaiahZ: SttktS** re- turned? 558 A C M M E N T A K Y upon Chapter turned ten Degrees : but they think that may be XX. meant of the Shadow of tht Sun (as it goes before) God fo diipofing the Rays or. the Sun, and orderirg the Light that no Shadow mould be projected, but where the Prophet foretold. This I thought fit to reprefent ^ but muft add that the antient Jews and Chriftians too, took the Words of Ifniah to fignity that the Sun it felf went back, an 1 not merely the Shadow. Whom Primate Vjher in his Annals fol- lows, whole Words are theie, The Sun and all the Heavenly Bodies went back. } and as much was detratle d from the next Night as was added to this day. A. M. 4001. Which was done, I luppole on a iudden, by the Power of God, and laired not long before all was reftored again to their ulual place: io that no change was made in the (rate of the Heavenly Bodies. But that there was fome Change for the prefent, was obferved both in the Northern Part of the World at Babylon ( from whence Merodack Beladan lent to en- quire about this Wonder, ?Chron. XXXll. 31.} and alfo in the Southern, in the Land of Egypt. As we may gather from a remarkable PafTage in Herodotw, who tells us in his Euterpe, C p. CXLU. that the - gyptians had obferved ft range Alterations in the Mo- tion of the Sun : fo that it had riien Fou- times i $lw out of its ufual Courfe &?&&& ivv xara- i>Vra, e^reo^v ^k iTiavr&itAa/, &c. it rifing twice where it now lets, and letting twice where it now rites: and yet, &$ev r&v X.CL-T* 'fatyjitfim JTTO rctvry, k-n- poitoSwai $ And yet no change <*i all mad^ anjor-g rhe Egyptians, by rhefe things neither in the Earth, nor the rXiver, nor any thing elie. This is a plain Evi- dence that iheir Neighbours Cand manv others its like ) had heard of the umifuaJ Morions of the Sun ( though without any alteration in the Heavenly Bo- dies, the Second Baol^of K f N G S. 559 dies, which were foon returned ro their former Sta- Chapter tion) but had not a perfect Knowledge of them, or XX. had corrupted their Knowltdge : tor to thefe two mentioned in Scripture, in the time of Jojhua and Hezekiah-^ the Egyptians added two more, and make them to have been near the fame time. But the Jews themielves have been thus fabulous, who fay in the Chapter Chelek, that the Day on which Ahaz died was but two Hours long : but now when Htzekjatis Lite was prolonged, God reftored thofe Ten Hours which were then wanting, and fo brought time even. See Schichard in his Bechinah Happerufchim, p. 122.. They alfo believe this Miracle was wrought a little before Sun-fet: but that excellent Perfon, whom I have often mentioned ( Dr. Alix') thinks it evident it was before Noon, about our ten of the Clock. Ver. 12. At that time Berodach- Baladan, the Son 0/"VerIe Baladan King of Babylon.'} Who is called Merodach Baladan in XXXIX. Jfa. I. Merodach was the name of an Idol among the Babylonians, as Baal or Bel was another ^ together with Adan or Adonis, as Sir J. Marfljam obferves. Jofephtff calls him BzAo^as, and fo dorh Berofa- He was but a Tributary to the King of Affyria, till Nebuchadnezzar came to Reign, who cart off the Yoke of Aflyria> and made that Mo- narchy fubjeft to him. Sent Letters. ~] Some think to make a League with him againft the King of Ajjyria : and it is likely to enquire about the Wonder done in the Land, 2 Chron. XXX1L 31. And a Prefent unto Hezekiah. ] As the manner was when they fought any ones Friend (hi p. For he had heard that Hezskiah had been SickJ] And therefore in thcie Letters, 1 fuppofe he alfo congra- tulated his Happy Recovery to Health. Ver. 1 2^-. 4 COMMENTARY upon Chapter Ver. 13. And Hezekjah hear hue d unto them.'] He XX. g ave ihern a friendly and benign Auciience (as Abar- {^S^j bind explains it ) being glad at their coming, as Ifai. Vcrfe i^ah tells us ( XXXIX. 2.) becaufe he knew them to be Enemies to Senacherib. And the Words feem to N import that they came about ibaie weighty Bufinefs, to which he confented. And fiorved them all the Houfe of his precious Things, the Silver, and the Gold, and the Apices, and the preci- ous Ointment, and all the Houfe of his Armour^ and all that was found in his Treafures.~] He was fo pleafed, or rather tranfported with Joy, at the Honour the King of Babylon had done him, that he not only gave them a gracious Audience, as was fair! before, but ordered his Officers to l"how them all the Rari- ties he had in his Treasures. For though his Country had been lamentably haraced by the Ring of Afjyria, and he had endeavoured to appeafe him with great Gifts ( XVIIi. 14, 15. ) yet there were many good Things remaining in Jentfalcm : and great Preterits had been made to Hezefyah, iince the frroke from Heaven upon Senacberib's Army, i Chron. XXX II. 23. The precious Ointment here mentioned, is call- ed by Kimchi, and other Hebrew Dofrors Apharfe- nton: which they fay was the true Balfam $ not to be found any where, but near to Jericho. There was nothing in his lloufe, nor / all his Domi- nions, lhat Htzzkjah frervecl them twt. ] There wen" other valuable Things in orher Parts of the Realm, befides thole in his own Palace at "j^rufalem : which he thought worth their feeing, and therefore ordered his Officers to fhew them to thele Emtafladois. Verfe 14. Ver. 14. Then caw e Jfaiahthe Prophet unto Kw^ f-Je- zektah, and fnid unto him i what f.iid theje Me*^ and front whence came they unto tUe? And tezekjah faid the* \ the Second Book^ of K I N G S, they an come from Afar Country ^ even from Babylon. ] Chapter He anfvvers to the laft part of Jfaiatfs Queftion, but XX. not a Word of the firft, what their Bufinefs with him IXVVJ was > And he calls that a far Country from whence they came ( though it was not very remote ) to ex- prefs the great Honour that was dene him, by a Prince at (uch a Diftance from him. Ver. 15. And he f aid, What have they fee ft m f/^Verfe 15. Houfe .? ] He knew well enough what they had feen 5 but had a mind to hear whether He%ek^ah would con- fefs the Truth, or excufe his Folly. And HezeJyab anftoered^ all the things that Are in my Houfe have they feen : there if nothing among my Trea- fures^ that I have not fiewn them. ~] He honefily re- lates the Truth : being infenfible of how dangerous a piece of Vanity he had been guilty $ in (dewing Strangers thofe Treafures, which he might well think would invite them to endeavour to mike themfelves Matters of them. Ver. 1 6. And Ifaiahfaid to Hezek*ah,Hear the Word ofVerfe 1 6. the LORD.'] How he refents this Aftion. Which was the more blamable, becaufe he had lately received fuch great Benefits from God, and feen fuch an afto- niming Wonder as he wrought for the confirmation of his Faith ; Whereby he (hould have been moved not to glory in any thing, but the goodnefs of God to him 5 nor confide in the Friendfhip of great Prin- ces, but only in the Power of the Almighty. Ver. 17. Behold the Days co/e, that all that is in Verfe 17. thine Houfe, and that which thy Fathers have laid up unto this Day ] There had been feveral great Kings in Jttdah who had overcome many Enemies, and got great Spoils : fome Remainders of which were (till in their Stores : Rutlfaiah forttels, fhotild all be carried C c c c away A COMMENTARY upon Chapter away to that very place, from whence he had been XX. complemented by thofeEmbafiadors. vx->^*> Shall be carried unto Babylon : nothing fkztt be left faith the LORD. ] The rooft pertinent Obfervation that I can make upon thefe Words, is that of Dr. Jackson (in his Anfoer to John's gueftion) where he faith, that whofoever will confider the State of things in this time, and the fmall Power which the Babylo* nians now had, in refped of their mighty Neighbour the King of AJJyria. ( whom the 'jews had reafon to fear above all other Princes ) the accompli foment of this Prophecy of Ifaiah, was according to Humane Conjecture far more unlikely and improbable $ than if a Man mould in the laft Age, have taken upon him to foretel, that the Duke of Saxony^ or fome fuch Prince in Germany fhould conquer France and Spain, and lead them Captive to Drefden. But the Word of the LORD ftands faft for ever .- and Ifaiah was proved an Hundred and Twenty Five Years after to be a true Prophet. Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And of thy Sons that flmtt iffitefrom thee, which thoujhalt beget, {hall they take av>ay.~] That is, his Pofterity defcended from him. And they Jhall be Eunuchs in the palace of the King of lon^ Wait upon him, as his Servants. XXIV. This was partly fulfilled in D*#/Wand his Com- panions, I.Dan, i. y er f e 19 Ver. 19* Then faid Hezekjah unto Ifarah, good if the Word of the LORD which thou haft fpoken. And be faid, it it not Good^ if Peace and Truth be in my Days?"] As if he had (aid, Thanks be to God, it is no worfe: let hrm do his Pleafure. Have I not reafon to be thankful, if according to his Promife he deliver me from the Ring of AJjyria ( v. 6. J and only prolong my Days, but let me injoy firm Peace B the Second Eoo\ of K I N G S. 563 Peace, and true Keligion as long as I Jive? Some Chapter take this to be a carelefs Speech, as it he did not con- XX. cern himfelf what became of Pofterity : fo he him- vx'v***.' felf did but live happily. But this is inconfiftent with fuch a pious Mind, as he had $ which, no doubt, was fenfible of the Vanity and Pride for which the Prophet reproved him $ and fubmitted to the PiHiifhment of it : which might have been im- mediately infli&ed, if God had not been very mer- iful unto him. Ver. 10. And the reft of the A8s of Hezektah, andVerfe 20. and all his might, and, bow he made a Pool, and a Con- duit ', and brought Water into the City. "] If he brought Water into the City by private Paflages, whereby the Enemy was deprived of the Benefit of it, while the City enjoyed it ( as Grotiw underftands it ) it was certainly a Work of admirable contrivance. See 2 Chron. XXXII. 5. Are they not written in the Book, of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah ? ~] The fame great Perfon here oberfves, that the Book of Chronicles fpoken of here, and in other Places, were Journals, as ihefe Books were Annals. Out of which Journals Ezra took ma- ny more Paflages, in his Book of the Chronicles, not omitting what he had written in thefe Annals. Ver. 1 1 . And Hezek}ah flept with his Fathers, and Ma- Verfe a I . najjeh hfr Son reigned in his ftead. ] Here is no men- tion of his Burial with his Fathers in the City of Da- vid: But Ezra in the 2 Chron. XXXII. 33. tells us they buried him, in the chiefefl of the Sepulchres of the Sons of David, and that all the People did him Ho- nour at hjf Death. Cccc 2 CHAP. A COMMENTARY upon Chapter r u A P VVT XXI. CHAP. XXI. Verfe I. Verfe i.A M Anajjeh was twelve Tears old when ke be- 1VJ_ gan to reign , which was that of the People, were pro- faned, together with the Sanftnary. Ver. 6. And he made Ms Son pafs through the Fire. 1 Verfr In the -L Chron. XXXIII. 6. it is faid he caufed hit Children to pafs through the Fire 5 which was a moft abominable pra&ice r ftriftly forbidden by Mofes up- on pain of Death, XVFII.Xeafr. 21. XX. 2,3. And obferved times, and ufed Jnchantments. ] See XIX.Lezrrf. 21. XVIII. Dent. 10, II. And dealt with familiar Spirits \ andWizztrds."] See XIX. Levit. 3t. He wrought much Wickednefs in tfo Sight of the LORD, to provofo him to Anger :~] For there were none before him, who committed fuch things as thefe : which were the higheft Provocations of God's D5f- pleafure. Ver. 7. And he fet a Graven Image of the Grove Verfe 7; which he had made in the Houfe. ~] The Hebrew Words Ml this place are Pefel haofherah. Which ourSelden hath weTl refolved (by comparing this with other Texts ) fignirres a Wooden Image of AJbt froth, or Aft art e. Syntagrn. 2. de Dih Syrff. Cap. 2. For Baal and Aftarte were chief Gods of the whofe Worlhip was introduced by Ahab: najfih imitated, V. 3. 566 A COM MEN T A KY *pon Chapter O/ which the LORDfaid unto David, and to Solo- XXI. won htf Son^ in thff Houfe^ and in Jerufalem, which I V^V^sJ have chofen out of all the Tribes of Jfrael, will I put my Name for ever. ] I obferved before what God faid to David: and what he faid to Solomon is recorded, \*KingsV\\\. 29. IX. 3. But Manajjeh endeavoured to make the Name of the God of Ijrael to be forgot- ten 3 by placing other Gods in his Houfe. Verfe 8. Ver. 8. Neither will I make the Feet of Ifrael move any more, out of the Land -which I gave their Fathers : only if they will olferve to do according to all that 1 have commanded them , and according to all the Law that my Servant Mofes commanded them. ] This Promife was included in the choice God made of Jerufalem to fix his dwelling Place there: Which was afecurity to them againft all their Enemies, if they proved obedi- ent to him. Verfe 9. Ver. 9. But they hearkned not."] They had always been a Rebellious People. And Manajjeh fednced them to do more Ev/l, than did the Nations whom the LORD deflroyed before the Children of Ifrael. ] But in his Reign their Wick- ed nefs was grown to fuch an heighth, that it exceeded all that the People of Canaan had done $ whom God expelled to make Room for the Ifr&elites. For he broke all the Laws of Mofes ; and worshipped more Idols than they did. We never read of Horfes con- fecrated to the Sun till his time ( See XXIII. n.) who in all Probability brought in that Idolatry. Verfe 10. Ver. 4O. And the L R D fpafa by his Servants the Prophets, faying^] Abarbinel makes account that Hefee, Joel,tfahum and Habakfok* a ll Prophefied in his Days. And fome think Obadiah alfo, and Jfaiah .- who, as the Jews fay, was fawn afunder by him. Ver. ii. the Second Bool^of KINGS. Ver. 1 1 . Becattfe Manajfih King of Judah hath done Chapter thefe Abominations, and hath done wickedly, above all XXI. that the Amorites did, which were before him : ] The LXVVJ whole People of Canaan are comprehended under the Verfe 1 1 Name of Amorites : who were the moft eminent of all the Saven Nations. See XV. Gen. 1 6. And hath wade Judah alfo to Jin with hit Idols /JThey were too much inclined to Idolatry, by the long Cor- ruptions that had been among them : but he made them far worfe than otherwiie they would have been. For as Jeremiah charges them, in the next Reign but one, acccording to the number of their Cities were their Gods, and according to the number of the Streets of Je- rufalem, theyfet up Altars to that fhamefttl thing, to burn incenfe to Baal. XI. Jerem. 1 3. Ver. n. Therefore thus faith the LORD God of If- Verfe. rael, behold, I am bringing fitch Evil upon Jerttfalew and Judah, that whofoever heareth of it, loth his Ears Jhall tingle. ] The Report of it (hall ftrike Terror, and Horrour into Men a as Procopius Gaztevr expounds it. See i Sam. 111. n. Ver. 13, And I veitt ftretch overjerufalem the line 0/Verfet Samaria, j A Metaphor from thofe who fet out Mens Lots and Portions, by drawing a Line to divide them, And is as much as to fay, he would give to Jerttfalev* the fame Meafure that he had done to Samaria. That is, pull it down to the Ground ^ conluoie fome of them by Famine, others by the Sword, and carry the reft into Captivity, as the fame Procopiw ^glofles. And the Plummet of the Houfe of Ahab.^] As they imitated his Sin^ fo they (hould have his Punifli- ment : whofe Houfe was utterly deftroyed. ft feems to be a Metaphor from Builders, who meafure with a Line and a Plummet what part of a Building (hall ftand, and what be demolimcd, And. A COMMENT AKr npan Chapter -And I will wipe Jerttfalem^ *s A Man wipeth a Di/b, XXI. wiping it, and turning it upfide down."] That is, leave VXW* no more People in it, than you fee in any thing in a Difh after it is emptied, and wiped, and turned up- (ide down : as the manner is when it is perfectly cleanfed.So the meaning is, I will deanic her of all her Inhabitants, and leave none remaining, The Hebrew Word which we tranflate )//&, the LXX.Tranflate 6 flfoo/Sas 1 ^, an AlabafterBox of precious Ointment, as the Chaldee tranflates it &/&*, in whkh the Greek Word AnwAlpL, lurks ( as tht. illuftrious Spanhemiv* obferves upon CaUimachvs his Hymn in Pal/ad, v. 13.) fignifying that Jerufalem was once in high eftcera with God, like a pretious Ointment $ but having loft its Savour, he would reject her as a Man doth fuch Ointment, when it is nothing worth. Vcrfe 14. Ver. 14. And I will ferfafy the Remnant of mine In- beritance."} That is, Judah, who alone was left when the ten Tribes were gone. And deliver them into the Hands of their Enemies^ and they fhatt become a Prey, and a fpoil unto all their Enemies.^ As their Brethren, the Children of Ifrael, ;j had been. Vcrfe 15. Ver. 15. Becaufe they have done that which was Evil in my Sight , and have provoked to Anger from the day that their Fathers came out of Egypt, even unto this d*y.] God now intended to punifli them for all their for- mer Rebellions, ever fince they were a People, Which Manaffeh had compleated, whofe Sin was fo great that it is fometimes mentioned as the fole Caufe of their Captivity. See XV. Jercm. 4. Verfc 1 6. Ver. 16. Moreover Manajjeh fljed innocent Blood ve- ry much."] Upon which Words Brocop'ntf Gaztvt thus gloffes, He chiefly deftroyed thJe who oppofed themfelves to hff Impiety , and denounced the divine An- ger the Second Book^ of K I N G S. ger againfi him fihat is, the Prophets ) They fay ^Chapter caufcd the Prophet Ifaiah to ie fawed in funder. So the XX f Jevvs fay in the Babylonian Talmud, in the Treatife L^V^j Jebamoth, and Jnjlin Martyr in his Dialogue with r/7/7/60 the Jew, and St. hhrom upon XX. Ifa. 17. Nay, the Words of the Apoftle XI. Heh. 37. gTrfj^- crrtv are commonly referred to this, as Primate 'Ujher obferves in his Annals, ad A. M. 3306. Till he had filled J entf ale m from one end to another. ] Top full as we fpeak. For it is a Metaphor from Meafures wet or dry, when they are filled up to the Brim. Bejide hif Sin wherewith he wadejudah to Sin, in do- ing that which was Evil in the fight of the LORD.'] That is, befidcs his abominable Idolatry. Ver. 17. AW the reft of the Alls of Manajfeh, rfWVerfe 17. all that he did, and his Sin that he finned, are they not written, in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Jndah ? ] All that he did in his Captivity, and after, were written in the Journals, from whence Ezra took what we find in 2 Chron. XXXIH. n, &c. Vcr. 1 8. And Manajfch flept with his Fathers, and Ver fe 1 8. was buried in the Garden of his own Honfe, in the Gar- den of U'L'La. : and Amon his Son reigned in htsftead. ] Some think this was the place where Uzziah was bu- ried, 2 Chron. XXVI. 23. and that he chofe to be bu- ried here, as unwonhy becaufe of his manifold Sins C of which he repented ) to be laid in the common Sepulchre of ihe Kings of Judah. Ver. 1 9. Amon was Twenty and Two Tears Old when Verfe I a he began to reign ^ and he reigned Two Teats in Jerufa- Um.\ Which is the Number of Years 10 which the Sons of thofe Kings arrived, who provoked God to Anger .- as fome of the Jews obferve in the Son of Dddd Jerobo- 5 7 o A COMMENTARY upon Chapter JeroLoum, the Son of Baa/ha, and the Son of Ahab XXI. i King. XV. 25. XVI. 8. XXII. 51. v^"-v^-' And his Mothers Name was MefhuOettieth, the Daugh- ter of Haruz, ofJotbahJ] Verfe . 20. Ver. 20. And he did that which was evil in the fight of the LORD, as his Father Manajjeh did.~\ He imi- tated him in all things, but in his Repentance, as is obferved, 2 Chron. XXXIII. 13. Verfe 2 1 . Ver. 2 1 . And he walked in all the Ways that his Father walked /, and Jerved the Idols that hjf Father ferved, andworfhippedthem.~] For he was bred up in Idola- try, and folemnly confecrated by his Father to the Service of Molech, v. 6. Verfe 22. Ver. 22 - And he forfook the God of his Father s, and walked not in the way of the LORD. ] As Hezekiah, and Jotham, and others of his Pious Anceftors had done. There are two Doftors alfo in the Chapter Chete^ the one of which faith, he burnt the Book of the Law : the other that he lay with his own Mo- ther. Verfe 13. Ver. 23. And the Servants of Amon confpired againft him, and flew him in his own Honfe.~] As he forfook God, whofe Servant he ought to have been : fo his Servants forfook him, and Murdered him in his own Palace. Verfe 14. Ver. 24. And the People of the Land Jkw all the w^ that had confpired againji K.ing Amon .] Jt was a thing of fuch pernicious Example to kill their King, though very bad $ that the People would rot fuffer it to go unpuniQied. And, the People of the Land made Jo/iah his Son King in htsftead.'] The common People feem to have been better difpofed than the Great Men : who, its proba- ble were engaged in the Confpiracy againft Amon. Bucit is not likely that the Common People took up- on the Second Book^ of K I N G S. 571 on them to conftiture a King, but their Elders and Chapter great Men met, together with the People, upon fuch XXL occafions as this, to confider and declare to whom ^~^~*~* the right of Succeflion belonged. Therefore by the People of the Land, muft be meant the. People affem- bled in the common Council of the Nation. Ver. 25. tfvw the reft of the Atis of Amon, which he Verfe 25, did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Jndah ?~] There is nothing laid here of him, but that he was a grofs Idolater : which was not the ground of the Conlpiracy againft him. But it is likely was related in the Book herr mentioned. Ver. 26. And he was buried in his Sepulchre, intheVctfe 26, Garden ofZ/zza, and Jofiah his Son reigned in bffftead.~] He was buried either in his Fathers Sepulchre ; or in one that he had made for himfelf in the fame- Place. CHAP. XXII. Verfe i.^TOjiah was eight Years Old when he began to Verfe I J Reign, *nd he reigned Thirty and One Tears in Jerufolem : and his Mothers Name was Jedidah, the Daughter of Adaiah of Bofcath. ] Who it is likely was a Good Woman, and took care to inftil early good Principles into him. Ver. 2. And he did that which was right in the /tght Verfe 2 of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his rather : and turned not afide to the right Hand or to the left.'] In him was \ 7 erified the Words of Solomon^ yiK.Prov. II. even a Child is known by his Doings^ whether his Work, be pure, and whether it be right. ~] For Dddd 2 when A CO MMENT AKJ upon Chapter when he had reigned Eight Years, while he was yet XXII. Young, asz,r4 observes, he began to reform all abu- CXWf ies in Religion, x Chron. XXXIV. 3, &c. Verfe 3. Ver. 3. And it came to pafs in the eighteenth Tear of King Jofiah, that the Kingfent Shaphan the Son of A- zaliah, the Son of Me (Im Ham the Scribe, to the Houfe of the LORD, faying, j This was in the Eighteenth Year of his Reign, not of his Age, as we are told, * Chron XXX1V.8. Verfe 4. Ver. 4. Go up to Hilkjah the High Prieft, that he may fum the Silver which if brought into the Houfe of the LORD. ] He ordered him to give him an exa& Ac- count of what Mony had been offered by Pious Peo- pie, for the reparation of the Houfe of the LORD: as had been done in the Reign of Jehoafi, XII. 4,* Which the peepers of the Door have gathered of the Peo- ple.] They were the Levites, as we learn from, x Chron. XXXIV. 9. Verfe 5 Ver. f. And let them deliver it into the Hand of the doers of the Work,, that have the overfight of the HoufeoftheLORD: and let them give it to the doers of the Work,, which it in the Houfe of the LORD, to re- pair the breaches of the Houfe.'} They intruded certain with the Mony, who were to overfee the Work ( whofe Names are recorded in 3 Chron. XXXI V 12. ) and they delivered it to the Workmen to buy Materi- als for the Reparation of the Houfe, a-s it follows in the next Verfe. Ver 6. 'Onto Carpenters, and Builders, and Mafons^ and to buy Timber, and Hewen Stone to repair the Houfe.~] Builders fas diftinguifhed from Carpenters and Ma- fans ) were fuch as laid the Timber and the Stone to- gether, which the other had prepared. Ver. 7. the Second Bool^ of KINGS. Vcr 7 Hoakit there WM reck?*'*& We /* Chapter them of the Mo, that . delivered into their Hand XXII, K& *** V'Wy- ^ They were Men of fucn x^ pproVedHonefty (like thofc in the Days of ^ehoajl, XII is ^ (hat there was no need to call them to au Account how they laid out the Mony. Ver 8 And Hilk>*l> ** %* ?*/*/<& *> *M* Verfe 8, ^e ferffc. I have, found the Book of the La,, mthe Ho^of tie LORD, tndmkjth gave the Bookto Sha- than anJhe retdit.^ The Book rfDnUronom, (S Procof,, <***- B"t \ 'rather the whole Book of the Law written by Mofes: that Authent.ck y which by God's Command was laid ap .in the ly Place, XXXI. D*. 14, ^. About which HeJ* Doftors made great D.feulHes in the.; iication of this place, Particularly R. L,fma in his iout of w^ich ^ ^hath allied . long Paffaee concerning this Matter in his H,ft*r,* Eccle^ft,. ,N TSec XVI Parf..IV.p.i 3 7. Where he ju(7 hinks it a 'wonder that J,f.b (houldfo early feat God and begin to reform Religion , ,f he had wver- r UpRr-nk of the Law before this tvme. And how blithe People have keptfuch a Paffover, and the S be . fo well inftrufted in the Rites of it, this i v y Year (7 Chro*. XXXIV. IJ^;- For the Cop.es of the Book now. found could not be (o foo* made and difperfed every where, as to teach them theft things It isrnoft likel* therefore, nay certain s that houfh this was the Original Book- yet tte Jews h many Copies of the tw among them, though fome of thL perhaps imperfect or %^gUX& report that Mana/eh blotted the Name ^f^VAH out of all the Books he could find. Httkhb tnep fore reiovced that he had found -the Original by whU all might be correfted. Which had t*en tod, .. 574 A COMMENTARY *pon Chapter it is probable, from the impious Fury of their Idola- XXIL trous Kings, in Come fecret place of the Temple: V^VSJ where ic was now found when they were about to re- pair it: And the rinding it, at this very time, when Jo/iah was making a Reformation of Religion, could not but be lookt upon as a remarkable Providence : which very much affefted him, as we read after- wards. Vcrfc 9. Ver. 9. And Shaphan the Scribe came to the King ; and brought the King Word again^ faying, thy Servants have gathered the Many that was found in the Hoxfe, and have delivered it into the Hand of them that do the Workj that have the overfight of the Hottfe of the LORD.~\ He gives him an account, that they had executed his Com- mands given him, v. 4, 5, 6. Verfe 10. Ver. 10. And Shaphan the Scribe fiewed the King, faying, Hilkiah the Prieft hath delivered me a Boo/{. And Shaphan read it before the King^\ Some part of it. It is faid indeed, in 2 Chron. XXXI V. 30. that they read in the Ears of the People all the Boof^ of the Law. But that was done afterwards, and was done by Par- cels, not all at one time. And fo it follows here, XXIII. 2. that Jofiah read, that is, caufed fome by his order, to read all the Words of the Book of the Covenant that was found in the Houfe of the LORD, \ in the Ears of all the People. Verfe II. Ver. n. And it came to pafj when the K.ing had heard the Words of the Boo\ of the Lavt y that he rent his Clothes. 3 Being very much affrighted when he heard the dreadful Threatnings againft the Tranigreflbr of the Law, read out of the Book of Deuteronomy. At which the Book opened, either by the fpecial Provi- dence of God 5 or by the deiign of Shapkan : who had read the Boolf before he brought ic to the King, v. 8. The Hierufalem Talmud^ and from thence A W- binel the Second Book, of KINGS. 575 binel fa'uh that he happned to read the Place, where Chapter the PunHbment of their King is denounced, XXVIII. XXII. Dent. 36. or, that he obferved the time drew near, L/*V\J when the Puniftiments God threatned would be in- fii&ed, for their long Offences again ft this Law. Ac- cording to what the King himfelf here faith, v. 13. great if the Wrath of the LORD that if kindled againft us, &c. By all which it is plain, the King had not written a Copy of the Law with his own hand, ac- cording to the command, XVII. Deut. 8. Difufe of- ten cancels the moft excellent Laws. For it is too probable they had a long time neglected alfo to read the Law Publickly every Seven Year. XXXIV. Dent. 9, 10. Ver. 12. And the King commanded Bilk* ah flfe'Verfe *x, Prieft, and Ahik#* the Son of Shaphan^ and Achbor the Son of Micaiah and Shaphan the Scribe^ and Afaiah a Servant of the Kings, faying7\ Shaphan was a Servant of the Kings being Secratary, or fome fuch Officer : but Afaiah, i fuppofe, was one that waited on his Perfon, and was always about him. Ver. 13. Go ye, and enquire of the LORD for re, Verfe *jv and for the People. ] Of Jerufalem. And for alljttdah, concerning the Words of this Boo% that tf -found : for great is the Wrath of the LORD that is kindled againft jtf , becaufe our Fathers have not hearty ned nnto the Words of thjf Book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us. ~] I fuppole he fent them to enquire whether there were any hopes his Anger might be appeafed ; and by what Means. Ver. 14 So Hilktxh the P-t/efl, and Ahikjwt, andVztf& t%, Achbor, and tihaphan, and Afaiah went unto Httldah'the Prophetefs, the Wife ofShatttim the Son ofTikvah, the Son- ofnarhas keeper of the Wardrobe."] It is certain that both feremhk ind Ztyhaniah prophecied in the Reign of; $/*&- Chapter Jofah: Therefore it may feem Orange that they did XXII. not re f rt to one f fhem. Of which Abarbixel gives t/*W> this account, that Jeremiah was at this time abfent from Jernfalem, being gone to con vert the Ten Tribes $ or rather, being at his own Houfe in Anathoth. And the fame he fuppofes of Zephaniah, that he was not near at Hand : and therefore they went to Huldah, who lived at Jcrufalem ^ and the rather, as fome fup- pofe, becaufe Women are more inclined to Pity and Compaffion than Men. But this is an abiurd Realbn, as Abarbinel well obferves : For the Prophets did nor fpeak according to their own Inclinations, but as God dictated to them. The Jews have a Tradition in Majjccheth Megil/ah, that eight Prophets defcended from Rahab, whereof Huldah was one. And Kimckt upon this place faith, Our Doctors write, that three prophecied in the Days of Jof/ah, viz. Jeremiah in the Streets or Villages; Zephaniah in the Synagogues, and Hnldah among the Women. Now /he dwelt in Jerttfalem in the College -, and they communed with her. ] The Hebrew Word Mifhneh, which we tranflate College ( and which the Targum takes to fignify a School) is in the Margin of our Bi- bles translated the fecond Part. For there were three Walls about Jerufale0*^ as Abarbinel obferves. Within the/r/2 of which lived Artificers, and the Common People: within the fecond, the better fort, the Wife Men, Prophets, and ProphetefTes lived : and within the third was the Mountain of the LORD, as they fpeak. Now of the middle part of Jerufalem they think the Holy Writer here fpeaks, in which Huldah dwelt. Verfc *$. Ver. 1 5. And /he faidnnto them> thvt faith the LORD God oflfrael t tell the Man that fent you unto me : ] She fpeaks the Stcond Eool^ of KINGS. {peaks in the Prophetical Stile, and with great Bold-Chapter neis tells him the plain Truth. XXII. Ver. 1 6. Thus faith the LORD, Behold I will bring c^VX; Evil upon thtf place, and upon the Inhabitants thereof : Verie i 6' even all the Words of the Boo/^, which the King ofjudah hathread.~\ All the Plagues threatned in the XXVIII. Deuteronomy, and other Places. Ver. 17. Becaufe they have forfaign me, and have Verfe 17. burnt Incenfe unto other Gods, that they wight provoke me to Anger with all the \ \ ork of their Hands : therefore my Wrath fiall be l^mdkd againft. this Place, and (hall not be quenched.'] This was the Anfwer to the King's En- quiry : that the Decree of God was Peremptory, and irreliftable againft Judith and Jerufalem, for their Ex- tirpation $ and he adds the Reafon thereof. Ver. 1 8. But to the King ofjvdah, which fittt you to Verfe 18. enquire of the LORD, thus ftall ye fay unto hivt : Thus faith the LORD God of Ifrael, as touching the Word which thou haft heard. ] As far as they concerned his Perfon. Ver. 19. Becaufe thy Heart was tender, andthou halt Verfe 19. humbled thy felf before the LORD, when thon hear deft, what I fpake againft this place, and againfl the Inhabi- tants thereof, that they flwuld become a Dejolation^ and a Curfe ^ and haft rent thy Cloaths^ and wept before me .- / alfo have heard thee, faith the LORD.~] Here i.refottr tokens, as fome obferve, of a true Repentance and Converfion unto God. Firji, foftneis of Heart 5 which is oppofed to that hardnefs, which arifes from Unbelief of God's Threatnings ^ becauie Faith makes Men tenderly affe&ed with them. Secondly, Great Humility arifing from a Senfe of his Unworthinefs of any Mercy. Thefe two were inward : The other were outward Tokens of this inward Senfe ^ which were rending his Cloaths, and weeping for his own. A COMMENTARY upon Chapter and for the Publick Offences 5 Which moved God to XXII. take fome Pity upon him, though he refolved to de- ftry the Nation. Ver. 20. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy Fathers.'] The time hafting for their utter Deftru- &ion, God would let him live but a (hort time f which was a Mercy to him, that he might not fee the Miferies that were coming upon them. And thoufoalt go unto thy Grave in Peace, and thine Eyes fhall not fee all the Evil which I wiU bring upon thfe Place. ] Though he was (lain in Battle (XXIII. 29.) yet he went to his Grave in Peace } becaufe, as the next Words explain it, he did not live to fee the Calami- ties, which were inevitably threatned to come upon the Nation ; but left his Kingdom in a peaceable Con- dition. For the Egyptians , who flew him, gave them no long difturbance, and the Babylonians were not yet ready to come up againft them. And they brought the King Word again. "] Who im- mediately fet himfelf to do all the Good he could for his.time : though he could not prevent the Evil that was a coming. Chapter XXIII. CHAP. XXIII; Yerfe 1. Verfe r. \ND the King fent, and they gathered un- \ to him all the Elders ofjitdnh, andoffe- rttfaleM.~] Whom he acquainted with what he intend- ed to do 5 ancl I fuppofe had their confent, which" gave the greater Authority to what follows, Ven ;.. the Second Eoo\ (/"KINGS. $7? Ver. 2. And the King went up into the Honfe of fta Chapter LORD, and all the Me* of Judth, and all the Inhabi- XXIII. tants ofJerufaleM, and the Priefts, and the Prophets. ~] vx-vr^-' Jeremiah and Zephnniah were the principal Prophets : Verfe 2 5- and, it is likely, there were many more who are not mentioned. And all the People both fmall and great, and he read in their Ears all the- Words of the Bool^of the Coven ant. ~] He ordered fame to read fXXH. lo.J in feveral pla- ces 5 fo that all might hear: for it is not likely that one Man's Voice could reach fo great a Multitude. Which was found in the Houfe of the LORD.] And fome of the Jews fay, was found lying open, at that very Place, where thofe Words prefented themfelves, XXVIII. Deut. 36. which awakned the King to caufe all the Law of God to be read to them. Ver. 3. And the King flood by a PiKar.'] UntoVcrfc 26, which his Throne adjoined : wherein the King was placed when he came to the Temple, as the Hebrew Do&ors will have it. The Kings Seat faith Jacoh Jftda Leo, was in the Court of the Israelites at the entrance into the Court of the Priefts, by a Marble Pillar. There he fat when he came into the Temple to worthip God. There Joaft was made King by Je- hoiada^ (XI. 140 there Hezektah read before the LORD the blafphemous Letter which the King of Af> fyriA fent him 5 (XIX. 14.) and there Jojiah now made a Covenant with God that he would ferve him. See Vitringa Proleg. ad L. de Synag. Veteri. Gap. IV. And made a Covenant before the LOjRp, to walk af- ter the LORD, and to fyep his Commandment s^ and his Teftitnonies and his Statutes. ] That is, all his Laws, of all forts. E e e e 2 With 580 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter With all their Heart, and with all their 6W. ] He XXIII. made this Covenant in his own Name, and in the LXV^u Name of all the People, whona he engaged faithful- ly to Gods Service. To perform the Words of the Covenant^ that were writ- ten in this Boo fa and all the People flood to the Cove- nant.] They gave their confent to the Covenant: Handing before the LORD as he did, and not ftir- ing from the place where he propounded it unto them. Verfe 4. Ver. 4. And the King commanded Hilkiah the High Prieft. 3 It was very proper to commit the Reform- ation of the Houfe of God to the High Prieft $ and thofe who mtniftred under him. Some will have Hilkiah to be the Father of 'Jeremiah as is afTerted by Greg. Abvlpharagius in his Hiftor. Dynaftarum, p. 68. Which is an Error : for Jeremiah was a Prieft of Ana- thoth^ whither Abiathar was banifhed, of the Seed of Ithamar, from whom it is likely he was defcended, I Kings II. 26. And the Priefts of the fecond Order. ] They that were under the High Prieft} efpecially the Sagan ( as the Targitm here hath it ) who was the Vicar of the High Prieft, and flood at his Right Hand when he officiated, as the Jews tell us, in Jotua, where they fay a Man could not be made High Prieft, un- kfs he had been firft a Sagan. And the keepers of the Door. ~] Whom the Chaldee call AntAYcdim^ which Word we find, XII. 10, Where \\\^Targum expounds it, Priefts that were Treafitrers: That is, fuch Levites as had the Cuftody of the Sacred Mony, which was for the repair of the Temple. And the Hebrew Pbrafe is not much diffe- rent, the Keepers of the Threjholds $ that is, the En- into thofe Chambers fas Hottinger- thinks) wherein the Second Bool^ of KING S. wherein were kept fuch things as were of Publick life Chapter in the Temple. Of which there were feven: wherein XXIII the Priefts Garments were laid up, and other fuch like things. To bring forth out of the Temple of the LOR ), att the Vejfils that were made for Baal. ~] The Word we tranflate Veffds or Inftruments, fignifies all the vari- ous Furniture belonging to Baal, and the reft of the falfe Gods, which ferved either for offering of In- cenfe, or Sacrifices, or the Veftments of the Priefts^ &c. For Baal. "} Who was the principal Idol, whofe Worfhip Ahab firft introduced, and Manajjeh refto- red after Jehu had abolimed it, as was faid before xxr. 3. And for the Grove. ] 1 obferved before that by a Grove is meant, the Image or Idol of the Grove : which Ahab had brought in alfo. See there XXI. 3, 7. and here below, v. 6. And for all the Hoft of Heaven. ] That is, the Pla- nets, and the reft of the Stars, which the Sab&ans, and Chaldeans, and other Eaftern People Worihip- ped. Whom the Jews impioufly imitated, though they had been taught in the very beginning of their Law, that the Sun, the Moon, and all the Stars, were all created by their God. And he burnt them without Jerufalem in the Fields of Kidron, and carried the Ajhes of them into Bethel. J Which place (where as Kimchi (peaks, was the very - Foundation of Idolatry) he polluted, and profaned 5 by cafting this Filth there : that they who were wont to worftiip the Calves in that place, might avoid it, and not come near it, 58* A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Ver. 5. And he put down the Idolatrous Priefts, XXIII. whom the Kings ofjndah had ordained io burn. Incenfe i-VVNJ //? the high Places, in the Cities ofjudah^ and in the Verfc 5. prices round abautjerufalem.~] Thete idolatrous Priefts are called Chemarim in the Hebrew 5 becaufe they were Cloaihed in Black Garments (,as Ki#/chi gives the reafon both upon this place, and upon I. Zephan. 49. Whereas the Priefts of the mod High were Cloathed in White: efpecially thofe whofe Genealo- gy was not queftioned. They indeed who could not make out their Defcent, were cloathed in Black Ha- bit, to diftinguifti them from undoubted Priefts : and To were they who had any Defect or Blemifti in their Body, as appears from \hzTalmud in Mid- doth. And indeed it is certain, that they among the Heathen who facrificed to the infernal Gods, were cloathed with fuch Veftments, as appears by Canidia in Horace, Lib. i. Sat. 8. and Medea in Appollonius Rhodius, L. 3. v. 86 1. from whence fome think they had the Name of ^Aawipop which we find in fome antient Infcriptions. And thus the Egyptians bewail- ed 0/fr*r, all what was fuitable to their mighty Ser- vices 5 wherein they were fad for the abfenceof the Sun, who was meant by O/w, as Gilbertus Cuperw obferveyin his Harpocrates. p. 129. And here now we have found the Original of thefc Chetrtarim, Priefts cloathed in Black. For it was a Black. Ox which re- prefented OJtris among the Egyptians, and it was co- vered Ipveloo fjt,i\&; or A?&, that is, A?apni or Fenus* For rfc A vtto, they had fet up the Statue of Venus in the. Temple of God. See.5e/^ Syntag. 2. de Diis Syris. Cap. %. And burnt it at the Brook^Kidron, and ftampt itfmaH to Powder, and caft the Powder thereof upon the Graves of the Children of ihe People."} Which by the Law were impure, and unclean : and fuch he declared thefe Ames to be, and actually made them unclean, that none might touch them^ much lefs gather them . up. as Sacred Reliques. And fo Kimchi expounds this place, he brought forth the Wooden Statue of Ditfna 9 which Manajfih had placed there ("XXI. 7.) andha-> ving burnt it and ftampt it to Powder, fcattered the Alhes on the Graves of the Idolaters,: in deteftation contempt of their Idolatry. 584 A COMMENTARY *p<> Chapter Ver. 7. And he brake down the Bonfe of the Sodo- XXIII. mites, which were by the Houfe of the LORD.'] From L/^V^, this fome gather, they were come to fuch an heighth Verfe 7. of Wickednefs, that there were thofe among them, who expofed their Bodies to be abufed contrary to Nature ^ in honour of thofe filthy Deities which they wormipped. For thefe Publick Houfes were Bear the Temple of theLO&D: and therefore thefe were Per- fons confecrated to impurity, contrary to the XXIII. Dent. 17. See i Kings XIV. 24. And fo the antient Interpreters here under ftand corporal fihhinefs: On- ly theChaldee tranflates it, the Houfes of things con- fecrated to Idols. R. Solomon Jarchi thinks it proba- ble, that among thofe 'who wormipped the Statues of the Moon or Venus, there were thofe who proftituted themfelves to filthy Mixtures. But Mr. Selden by Kedefchim (which"we tranflate Sodomites*) understands the Priefts of AftarteyWhom St.Hiirow upon IV. Hofea, calls exfeftos upon pretence of .greater Purity, depriv- ing themfelves of thofe Parts th# ferve for Procreati- on of Children. Where the Women move Hangings for the Grove. ] For Ajherah, or Aflarte before mentioned : as Selden expounds it in the fore-named place. Thefe Hangings or Curtains, incompafled the Image, and made a kind ofHoufe for it, as the Hebrew Word imports, which the Greeks called wt/Jrxss and wwS'ia little Temples, or habitations. Into thofe Tents the Worftiippers went, and there committed all manner of Lesvdnefs: for they had not arrived to fuch a degree of Impudence, as not to feek for privacy in their Filthinefs. Verfc 8. Ver. 8. And he brought all the Priefls out of the Cities of Judith. ] Would not fuffer them to dwell there, to corrupt the People. "And "* the Second Boo\ of KIN G & . 585 And deft led the High Places where the Prtefts had Chapter burnt Incenfe.'} He made them, faith Kimchi, Recep- XXIIL tacles of impurity, by cafting dead Carkafies there, and other fuch like unclean things : that fo he might remove out of the Peoples Hearts all Idolatry. For where fweet Odors were wont before to be j there was nothing but (tench. From Geba to Beer-jheba.~} That is, throughout fhe whole Country 5 for Geba was in the Northern Parts, and Beer-flxba in the Southern. See i Kings XV. 22. XX. Judges i. And brak$ down the High Places of the Gates that were in the eniring in of the Gate of JoJJwa, the Cover" nottr of the City , which were on a Mans left Hand at the Gate of the City. ] The High Places of the Gates feem to have been ereded there, to offer Incenfe to thofe Tutelar Gods, unto whom their idolatrous Rings had committed the protection of their City. And Kimchi thinks that theGovernour of the City had his private Houfhold God, and a portable Altar whereon he of- fered to his Domeftick Idol. Which Joflah did not fpare $ but let the greateft Men fee his impartial Zeal againft all Idolatry. Ver. 9. Neverthelefs the Priefts of the High ? laces Verfe came not up to the Altar of the LORD in Jerufalevt : but they did eat of the unleavened Bread among their Brethren."} He mixed Mercy together with le verity. For though he did not fuffer thofe Priefts, who had offered Incenfe in thofe High Places ( directly con- trary to the Law, XII. Dent. n. } to offer Sacrifices at God's Altar ^ becaufe they had defiled themfelves with that finful Wormip, though to the true God*: yet he permitted them to partake of the Bread of the Priefts, which comprehends all thofe parts of any Sa- crifice that was the Priefts Portion. He mentions in- Ffff deed A COMMENT ART pon Chapter deed only the Meat-Offering $ which was to be of XXIIf. unleavened bread (\\.Levit. 4, 5, n. ) but that is put *^~v~^ by a Syneckdoche for all other Offerings belonging to the Priefts. So that they were put into the condition of thofe Priefts that had any blemifh : who might not ofer the Bread of their God, XXI. Levit 17, n. but they might eat the Bread of their God, both of the Holy, and moft Holy. v. 12. XLIV. Ezek. 10. Verfe 10. Ver. 10. And he defied Tophet, which is in the Val- ley of the Son of Hinnom.^ By throwing all manner of Filth into it, as well as by throwing down the Al- tars on which they facrificed their Children, as the Sy- rtacb and Arabic^, feem to underfland it. That no Man might make his Son or his Daughter pafs through the Fire to Moloch."] Though a great number of the Hebrew Dodtors think that their faffing their Children through the Fire, was nothing more, than making them pafs between two Fires, whereby they were confecrated to that Idol : yet it is certain, as I have (hown before, XVI. 3. that they offered their Children fometimes as burnt Sacrifices to Idols. Which was a thing fo horrid, that perhaps they in- vented this inftead of it, to make them pafs through two Fires. Or perhaps the Opinion of Maimonides may be true, that they did not burn their Children to Moloch, as they did to other Idols : but the intire Worfhip of Moloch was abfolved, by making Chil- dren only pafs through the Fire to him : as his Words are in his Book of Idolatry, Cap. VI. Seft. V. which may be confirmed from, XIX. Jerom. 5. where he faith, they burnt their Sont with Fire unto Baal in To- fbet. See Selden Syntag. i.tfc DiitSyris, Cap. VL where he largely treats of this. Ver. iio the Second Boo\ of K I N G S. $87 Ver. n. And he took away.] That is, he de ft royed, Chapter as the Hebrew Word fignifies, v. 5. where we tranf- XXIII. late it, he put down the Chomarim $ that is, deftroyed s^v**> or flew thofe Priefts as Bochartus interprets it. So^erfe n XXVI. Levit. 6. who tranflate the fame Word, I mil rid evil Beafts out of the Land, that is, deftroy them. The LXX. here tranflates it xxrUowft he burnt the Horfes : as before, xarlxouTg T&t&Qftt. he burnt the Priefts : though perhaps in both places it (hould be xaTfc7Tay he Made to ceafe, as the Hebrew Word lite- rally fignifies. The Horfes that the Kings of Judah had given to the Sun.] That is, had confecrated to the Sun : as XX. Levit. i. They are faid to give their Children to M0- kch. A great Number of Authors tell us that among feveral Nations, thefe Animals were facred to the Sun ( as Hawks and Tome other Creatures were) becaufe of their Swiftnefs in their Courfe. But it is uncer- tain, whether they were kept to be facrificed to the Sun ( as they were among the Mafagete, Perjtans^ Armenians, and other People mentioned by Bochar- tta) or only to be led forth in Pomp, (as fome of the Jews fpeak) every Morning to meet the Rifing Sun. Or, as others take it, the Wormippers of the Sun got upon thefe Horfes early in the Morning, and rode out to adore the Sun at its riling. See Hierozoi* con. P. i. Lib. 1 1. Cap. X. At the extring in of the Hottfe of the LORD by the Chamber of Nathan- ntelech the Chamberlain. ~] Or, the Eunuch, who was fome great Otrker in the Court. Which was in the Suburbs, j So the Targum inter- prets the Word Parvarim : which mo ft Translations retain as the name of a Place, unto which the Street in which thefe Horfes were kept reached $ from the Chamber of Nathan- melech. He was the principal Ffffa Of- 588 A Chapter Officer, perhaps, that lookt after them ,- and had the XXIII. oversight of all thole Stables which were built from \,XWi the Temple Gate to Parvarim. And perhaps he rode out himfelf every Morning upon one of them, to folute the rifing Sun, in the King's Name. And burnt the Chariots of the Sun with Fire. ] The Antients fancied the Sun it felf was carried about in a Chariot ( as Bochart obferves in the place above- mentioned) and therefore Chariots as well as Horfes, were dedicated to it. Which he makes an Argument, that they were not mere Brazen, Silver, or Golden Statues of Horfes that are here meant : but real living Horfes, to draw thofe Chariots : See Vojfius de Orig. & Prog. Idol. Lib. ii. cap. 4. Some ot thofe who think they were only imagines eqaorttm & quadriga- mm ( as Selden fpeaks Syntag. ^ de Diis Syris, Cap. 8. } images of Horfes and Chariots, made of iome metal or other, imagine they were reprefented in the (hape of Griffins, as the famous M. Spoon thought. See Dr. Hyde de Relig* Vet. Perf. p. 117. Veffe I2> Ver. 12. And the Altars that were en the top of ike upper Chamber ofAhaz, which the Kings of Judah had made. ] They were not fatisfied with the Publick Altars they had made, in a vaft Number of High Places : but, the Roofs of their Houfes being Flat, they made Altars there (fee XIX. Jerem. 13, XXXII. 29. i. Zephan. 5.) and particulary upon the King's Palace, where they wormipped the Sun, Moon, and Stars. But this could not priviledge them from De- ftru&ion, that they were on the top of the King's Houfe. And the Altars that Manaffeh had made i the tw* Conrts of the ffwfe of the LORD did the King beat down^ and brake them down from thence ; and caft the ditft of them into the Brook^ Kidrcn.~] It is faid in 2 Chran* the Second Bool^. of KING S. * Cftriff.XXXHI. 13. That when Manajfih repented, Chapter he took^ away all the Altars he had made in the Moun- XXIII. tain of the Houfe of tlx LORD: and I fuppofe thofe in the Courts of the Priefts and of the People were then removed. But Amon fet them up again in the very place where Manajfih had ere&ed them : and fo they are here called his Altars. Ver. 13, And the high Places that werebeforeJerufa-Vttfe km. Which were on> the right Hand of the Mount of Corruption."] That is, Mount Olivet^ I -Kings XL 3. which was antiently called Har-mifchah the Mount of Unction^ becaufe of the Olives that grew therein great plenty : but by way of contempt and fcorn was,. . called by the Prophets Har-mafchith the Mount of Cor- ruption, becaufe of the Idols that were placed there, whereby the People were corrupted in their Reli- gion. Which Solomon the King of Jfrael had builded for Aflrtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for* Chemoth the abomination oftheMoabites, and for Mil* com the abomination of the Children of Ammon. ~] It is not to be doubted but thefe deteftable Idols had been taken away by fuch Religious Kings, fyAfaJfi- hoflya$hat and Hezekjab .-but they were reftored again by their impious Succeflfors* iri the very fame place, and at the fame Figure with thofe antient Ones : and fo are here called thofe.that&/*xv00 made^ becaufe he was the firft Author of them, or at leaft permitted them to be made by:his Wives^ and connived at theic Worthip, as R. Levi thinks. Did the King defile. ] By dead Metis BoneSj and other unclean things, which he threw into thofe Ver, 590 A C M M E N I A K Y npon Chapter Ver. 14. And he broke down the Images, and cut XXIII. down the Groves. ~] Wherein the Images were. VVVSJ And filed their Places with the Bones of Men.'] Which Verfc 14. he caufed to be digged out of their Graves, and burnt: being the Bones of Idolatrous Priefts, v. 16. Verfe 15. Vcr. 1 5. Moreover the Altar that was at Bethel. ] For this City and the Territories thereof had been under the Power of Judah, ever fince the Reign of Abijah, 2 Chrox.XlU. 19, 20. And the high Places which Jeroboam the Son of -Nc* bat) who made ifrael to &'//, had tnade^ both that Altar tfftd the High place he brake down, and burnt the High . Place, and ftampt it fwatt as Powder, and burnt the Grove.] That is, he burnt the Golden Calf, as Mr. Selden thinks : for Afierah commonly fignifies fome Image, as he (hows in his Difcourfe about dftarte. Whofe Image its likely this was, for the Golden Calf, as the Jews think, was carried away before this. But that's not certain: and Scldens Opinion is probable that the Golden Calves were made of Wood gilded over, and thence called Golden , which were eafily burnt. Syntag. I. de Diis Syris, Cap. 4. Vcrfc 1 6. Ver. 16. And as Jo/iah turned himfelf. ] Looking round about him : being refolved to truft no Mans Eyes but his own, in difcovering the Monuments of Idolatry. He fpied the Sepulchres that were there in the A10#/*r.~] It is not faid whofe Sepulchres they were, but it is probable of the Idolatrous Priefts ( for in the Chroni- cles he is faid to have burnt their Bones ) and of the Prophets, and Great Men who had been Inftruments to promote Jeroboams Idolatry. And fent and too!\ the Bones out of the Sepulchres, and burnt them upon the Altar ^ and polluted it. ~] Fcr no- the Second Book^of KINGS. 591 nothing was more unclean, than that which had Chapter touched Dead Men's Bones. XXIII. According to the Word of the LORD, which the IXVSJ Man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed thefe Words. ] Who foretold Three Hundred and Sixty Two Years ago, thefe very things (hould be done by a King called Jofitb, I Kings XIII. i. Ver. 17. Then he f aid, what Title k that that /fee . An & did unto them, according to all the ACts that he had d&ne in Bethel."] That is, he brake them down, and burnt them, and ftampt them to Powder, v. 15. Verfe 20. Ver. 20. And he flew all the Priefts of the High Places that were there, upon the Altars. ] There were fome Priefts of the High Places (of whom we read before v. 8, 9. ) that he did not kill : for they were fuch as facrificed only unto God in the High Places. But thofe whom he (lew 7 , were either the Priefts of Je- roboam, who worfhipped the Cahes, and had no right to the Priefthood (but had invaded it by the favour of their King ) or fuch Priefts of the Order of Aaron as facrificed to Bual, or other falfe Gods. And burnt Mens Bones upon them. ] Which was the higheft pollution of thole Altars, v. 13, 14. And returned to Jeru/alem. ~] Having made a Pro- grefs, through all the Country, to abolifh Idolatrous WorQiip where it was pracTifedj he returned to Je- rufalem, the Second Eoo\ of K I N G S. rufalcm, there to reftore the Solemnities of true R.eli- Chapter gion. XXIII. Ver. 21. And the King commanded aU the People, v-^>r^ faying, fyep the Pajfover unto the LORD your God, <#Verfe xi it is written in the Book of this Covetiant.~] Which he had bound them and himfelf to obferve, v. 3. and now tryed them whether they would ftand to the Co- venant, as they promifed : by making a Proclamation through the whole Kingdom that they (hould keep this Feaft. Which was a Commemoration of the greateft Benefit God ever beftowed on them, before the giving them the Law, for it made them a free Na- tion. Ver. 22. Surely there was not held fuck a PajJbverV&tt 22 from the Days of the Jttdges, nor in all the Days of the Kings of Ifrael, and of the Kings ofjttdah. ~] Since the time of the Prophet Samuel, the laft of their Judges, there had never been fuch a great Concourfe of Peo- ple at any PaiTover, nor fuch a Multitude of Sacrifices offered j nor fuch an exaft Obfervation of the Rites and Ceremonies belonging to this Feaft. For in the time of Bezekiah many were abfent , and many had not purified themfelves as they ought : But now, as Ralbag expounds it, they were all turned to the LOR.D, and there were no Idolaters nor Apoftates among them. See Selden Lib. i. de Syned. Cap. XH.p,478. Ver. 2}. But in the eighteenth Tear of King Jofiah, Verfe wherein this Pajfover was held unto the LORD in Jeru- falem.'] In the fame Year that he took care to have the Temple^ repaired (XXII. 3.) and to purge it from all Idols (XXIII. 4.; hereftored the tfue Wor- (hip of God to fuch Purity, as it hid not been in for fome Ages. Gggg Ver 24. A COMMENTARY upon Chapter Vcr. 24. Moreover the Workers with Familiar Spirits^ XXIII. and the Wiz>zards.~] Of which fee what I have noted LXW* upon XIX. Levit. 31. XX. 6. Verfe 24. ^^ fe Images. ] In the Hebrew the Teraphim, which were very antient among Idolaters, as I have obferved upon the Book of Genefis, XXXI. 19^ And the Idols. ] Of which there were many forts 5 that are all comprehended in this Word. And all the Abominations that were fpied in the Land of Judah, and in Jerufalem. "] What thefe Abomi- nations were is not certain, but it is likely they were fuch as Ezekfel faw and defcribes in after times 5 when God (howed him what odious things they committed fecretly. See VIH. Ezek. 6. 9, 10,13, ijn^. Did Jojiah put away, that he might perform all the Words of the Law, which were written in the BooJ^, that Hilkiahthe Priefl found in the Houfe of the LORD.] He had his Spies, it is probable, to difcover all fecret Idolatry, as well as Publick, which being found out he abolithed, as abominable unto God. Verfe 25. Ver. 25. And like unto him, was there no King be- fore him, that turned to the LORD with all his Heart and with all his Soul, and with all his might, according to att the Law of Mofes $ neither after him, arofe there any like him."} He doth not compare him with Da- vid and Hezefyah ( as Procopitts Gazneus here notes ) but with other pious Kings, fuch as Afa, Jehofljaphat, and Jot ham : who were far inferiour to him in Piety* And Hezekiah himfelf was not fo exaft, and did not make fuch a thorough fearch, as he did, after all ido- latrous Pra&ices. The Nation alfo was fo much cor- rupted fince his Days, by his Son Manaffeb, who reigned a long time, that it made the Work of Re- formation more difficult in the time of Jojiah. Yet in fome regard Hezek}*h excelled him : and therefore the the Second Bool^ of K I N G S. the fame Character is given of him ( XVIII. S-J Chapter which is here given ofjopah 5 becaufe of his truft in XXIII. God, in the time of his greateft diftrefs, for which v^vO he was very eminent. But as to Repentance, Jofiah was moft exemplary. Ver. 16. Notwithftanding the LORD turned M>^Aa. See V/er his Annals, ad A.M. Went up againft the King of Affyria.'} ' Who was then King of Babyhn ^ for he had fubdued the Affyri- and brought them under his Empire. There are thofe the S cond Boo^of KINGS, 597 thofe indeed who think this hapned before that time, Chaptc and that this King ^f Egyp t went to revenge the In- XXII juries done them by Senacherib : and he hoped for IXV the better (uccefs, becaufe he was much weakned by that Slaughter the Angel had made of his Army } and becaufe the Mede/ and Babylonians had rebelled againft the AJJyrians. But why Jofiah mould go to help the Affyrians no account can be given. Our foremention- ed Primate hath better expounded it, that as the King of Per/ia having fubdued Babylon and AJJyria, is called the King of Ajjyria, VI. Ezra. 22. So here the King of Babylon having fubdued Affy- ria, is called King of Affyrla. Belides, that Baby Isn was anciently accounted apart of Affyriti and the Land of the Chaldeans is faid to be founded by the Ajjyrians, XXIII. Ifaiah 15. And thus Jofe- phtff ex pretty faich, Lib. X. Antiq. Cap. 6. M/f^ -TroAs- IJL&V ^ T8$ BaoL/Aa>y/8$, Oi rlw Aosvgjk&v xoLTlfaxra.* %?w~ The King of Egypt cavte to fight the Medet and Babylonians ^ who had overturned the Ajfyrian. Em* fire. To the River Euphrates. ] To befiege Carchevtffi^ which lay upon that River, as we read; r Chron. XXXV. 20. Which City was poflefled by the Afyrians ia the time of .Senacherib (,X. Ifaiah 9.) but their Empire being overthrown, it returned under the Pow- er of the Babylonians. And King Jo/tab went againft him^\ Being afraid he ^ intended to invade his Country in his Paflage 5 or to divert him from his Expedition againft the Babyloni- ans^ with whom he was in league. It is lifcely the latter was the reafon : for the KLng of Egypt aflbred him he had no quarrel with him $ and yet he would . 21 ^ 22, . Mil 598 A COMMENTARY Hpon Chapter And he flew him in Megiddo^] Gave him a mortal XXIII. Wound : of which he died not till he came tojeru- U^Wf falem, 2 Chron. XXXV. 24. When he hadfeen him. ] At the fir ft brunt 5 as foon as they had joyned Battle. See XIV. 8. Verfe go. ^ er< 3* And his Servant! carried him in a Chariot dead from Megiddo.~] Mortally wounded (as was faid before ) which befel him, the Jews think, be- caufe he did not ask counfel of the LORD, by the Prophet Jeremiah. And brought him to Jerufalem^ and buried him in hit own Sepulchre. ] With fuch Lamentations, as we no where read were made for any other King, 2 Chron. XXXV. 25. which continued fo long, that it became a Proverb, Kll.Zachar. n. And the People of tie Land took^Jehoahaz the Son of Jo/tab, and anointed him and made him King in hit Fa- > thert ftead.'] He is called Shattum, XXII. Jerem. n. and was yoanger than Jehoiakim, as appears by this, that he was but Twenty Three Years old when he be- gan to Reign, and reigned but Three Months : after which Jehoiachim being made King, was Twenty Five Year* Old, z>. 31, 36. But the People preferr'd Jehoahtz before him, becaufe perhaps he was the more warlike Perfon. And they anointed him, as Abarbinel thinks, becaufe he was not the firft Born, and his Title queftionable. For they anointed Per- fons, only when there was a Controverfy about the Succeffion. Ralbag alfo is of Opinion that the Peo- ple by. force made him King againft his Will: which he will have to be the import of that Phrafe, they to&k, Jehoahaz, 8cc. Verfc 31. Ver. 31. Jehoahaz was Twenty Three Tears old when he began to Reign, and he reigned three Months in Jerufalem: and kis Mothers Name was Hamutal, the Daughter the Second Bool^ of KIN GS. Daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.~\ His Father Jo/iah Chapter had four Sons, and this was the youngeft of them, XXIII. as appears from iChron.lll. 15. Where he is called C/VNJ Shallum^ as he is by the Prophet Jeremiah. Which Name our great- Private thinks feemed to the People to be of an ill Omen ( for Shallum King of Ifrael' reigned but one Month ) which made them change it into Jehoahaz, : which proved not much more for- lunate to him, for he reigned but Three Months, ad . M. 3371. Ver 32. And he did that which WAS Evil in /yfeVerfe 32; fight of the LORDy according to all that his Fathers had done. ] After the Example of Ah*z, Manajjeh, A- mon^ and fuch like wicked Kings : his Mother per- haps having infufed ill Principles into him. Ver. 33. And Pharaoh-Nechoh put him in Bands at Riblah^ in the Land ofHamath, that he might not reign in Jerufaiem. ] When he returned from his Expedi- tion againft the Babylonians, he dpofed this Prince, as an Ufurper, or hearing that he intended to be re- venged of him for his Fathers Death $. or that he was of a turbulent Spirit, and fo put it out of his Power to give him any Difturbance. And put the Land to a tribute of an Hundred Talents of Silver^ and a Talent of Gold. ] In token of their Subjection to him. Ver. 34. And Pharaoh-Neehoah made Eliakjat the Verfe Son of Jdfiah, King in the room of Jojiah his Fat her. "\ For the Eldeft Son Johanan^ in all likelyhoed, was dead. And turned hte Name to Jehoiakim. ] As the man* ner of Conquerors was, to change the Names of thofe whom they had fubdued, in token of their abfolute.. Power over them. See I: Daniel 7, And the fore- named Primate thinks he gave him this Name^ .thatr he. 4 COMMENT A KT upon Chapter he might teftify, he afcribed his Vi&ory over the Ba- XXIII. bylonians to Jehovah, the God of Ifrael: who he faid excited him to that Expedition, x Chron. XXXV. 21, 22. And he took, Jehoahaz, away, and, he came to Egypt , and died there.^ According to the Prophefy of Jcre- miah, whom God Cent to call this New King, and the People to Repentance ( XXII. i, a, 3- ) Weep ye not for the Dead ( i. e. for Jofiah ) neither bemoan him but weep forely for him that goeth away (that is, for Shallum ) for he fl)all return no wore, nor fee his Native Country, 8cc. hut he faaH die in the Place whither they Jhalllead him Captive, &C. XXII. Jerem. i o, 1 1 , i 2. Ver. 35. And Jehoiakjm gave the Silver and the Gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the Land to give the Mo- ny, according to the Commandment of Pharaoh. ~] For the Treafures of the LORD'S Houfe, and of the King's, it feems were empty. He exafted the Silver and the Gold of the People of the Land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it to Pharaoh-Kechoh.~] Proportionable to every Man's Eftate. Verfc 36, Ver. 3^ Jehoiakim was Twenty and Five Years old when he began to Reign, and he reigned Eleven Tears in Jerufalem : and his Mothers Name was Zebudah, the Daughter ofPedaiah of Rum ah. ~] In the very begin- ning of his Reign Jeremiah was (em to him wirh a Meflage from God, to bring him to Repentance, XXVI. Jerem. i, 2, 3. XX VII. Jerew. where he Teems (v. 12 ) to have told his Brother Zedekiah tlm he (hould be King \tjehoiakim was dilbbedient} and ex- horts him not to be fo. Verfe 37. Ver. 37. And he did that which WAS Evil in the fight of the LORD, according to all that his Fathers had done.'} Seez;. 31. For he killed the Prophet Vrijah, and the Second Bool^ ofKlNGS. g ol and was at the charge to fetch him out of Eg//>/, Chapter whether he fled to fave his Life, XXVI. Jerem. 20, XXIFl. f A__|'^"**_| I . ^ . L -. C*^ jlf.'t ^t_ e* xi, Sec. And if it had not been for Ahikam the Son ofSkaphan, who had been a great Man in his Father Jo/iah's Court, he had ferved Jeremiah in the fame manner, v. 24. Chapter CHAP. XXIV. Verfc I.TN his Days Nebuchadnezzar King ofBafy-Verfe I J. Ion came up. ] He is called by Heathen Writers Nabo-col-aJJar : and as Primate Vfier thinks NebopolaJJar was his Father. He begun his Reign in the Fourth Year of Jehoiachim, aa Jeremiah tells us, XXV. i. When having fmote the Army of Pharaoh Nechoh at Carchemijb near Euphrates ( XL VI. Jertm. 2.) he came up to make the Jews Tributaries to him, as they had been to Pharaoh. And Jehoiachim became his Servant Three Tears, then he turned and rebelled agatnft him.'] He omits his being bound in Chains, and carried to Babylon, which was in the fifth Year of Ring Nebuchadnezzar, and the Eighth of Jehoiachim ( a Chron. XXXVI. 6. ) where having been kept a while, and promifing Fi- delity to Nebuchadnezzar , he reftored him to his Kingdom, in which he ferved him Three Years, and then, in his Ninth Year rebelled againft him, by the Inftigation, it is probable, of Pharaoh who be- gan to gather ftrength again. But this proved fatal to him, for Pharaoh was not able to help him, v. 7. Ver. 2. And the LORD fent againft htm Bands of the Ghaldevt, and Bands of the Syrians , and Bands of H h h h th A COMMENT 4 R.T up* Chapter the Moabites, and Bands of the Children of XXIV. and fent them again ft Judth to deftroy it.'] Thefe WVSJ were all fubjeft to Nebuchadnezzar, whom he feot to, chaftife Jehoiachint, before became himfelf, and be- (ieged Jerufalem^ and carried away part of the Veifels of the Houfe of the LORD, &c. For this was the third Year mentioned by Daniel after he was reftored to his Kingdom ( I. Dan* i, 2.) when he, Hananiah, Michael, and Azariah were carried Captive to Baby- lon, v. 6* According to the Word of the LORD which he fpafa by his Servants the Prophets. ] By the Prophet J far ah XX. 17, 18. of this Book, and bv HW^/jXXII. 16. and Jeremiah in the XIV, and XV. Chapters. Vfcrfe Ver. 3. Surely at the Commandment of the LORD came this upon Judith, to remove them out of his Sight, for the Sins oj Manaffeh according to all that he did."] By God's fpecial Order thofe People came up againft Judah ftherefore in the Verfe before he is faid to fend them ) becaufe they were incurable. For ALr- najjeh had fo corrupted the whole Body of the Peo- ple, that Jofiah's Reformation could not recover them : but immediately upon his Death, his Son relapfed to the old Idolatry. Verfe 4. Ver. 4. And alfo for the innocent Blood th'at he flxd (for he filled Jerusalem with innocent Blood) which th$ LORD would not pardon.] See XXI.i6. Upon the Repentance oiManaJfih, and the Reformation made by Jojiah, God deferred their Puniftiment : but he re- folved not to grant them an abfolute Pardon of their Iniquity ; which provoked him to decree their Extir- pation. Hferfe $s Ver. 5. Now thereftoftheA&sofJehoiachiw, and all that he did, are they. not written in -the Book,, of the Chrozicles of the Kings of Jndah 3 ] Ver. 6 : . tke Second Bool^of KINGS, 603 Ver. 6. So Jchohtfywflept with his Fathers^] It appears Chapter by this that to fleep with ones Fathers fignifies no more, XXIV. than to die, as they did. For Jehoiachim was not U'VSJ buried wiih them, nor died in his Bed: but being ta-Verfe 6. ken by the Chaldaatts, he died as they led him out ofjerufalem, and according to the Prophefy of Jere- miah ( XXil. 18, 19. ) they caft him out of the Gates, and he had Burial of an Afs : that is, lay jupon the Ground unburied. Abarbinel thinks he died in the way to Babylon 5 and his Body was left in the High Way, without any care taken to inter it : but it lay expofed to the Sun by Day, and to the Froft by Night. XXXVI. Jerom. 30. And Jchoiachin hff Son reigned m his ftead. ] Who is called alfo Jechoniah i Chron. III. 16. and more briefly Choniah (by way of Contempt, as fome think) XXIL Jerew. 14. Ver. 7. And the King of Egypt came not again any Verfe 7. more out of his Land, for the King of Babylon had ta- ken from the River of Egypt , to the River Euphrates , all ihat pert dined to the King of Egypt.} After the Fight at Carcheruifl) ( which I mentioned, v. i.) Nebuchad- nezzar conquered all the Places that the Ring of E- gypt held, between that and the River of Egypt. Con- cerning which, fee my Notes on XV. Gen. 13. So that he durft not ftir out of the Limits of his own Country, which was bounded by that River, till the R.eign of Zedekjah. When the King of Egypt adven- tured to come up to help him } but in vain : for he was forced to return to his own Land, XXXVII. Jerevt. 7, 8. Ver. 8. Jehoiakiv was eighteen Years Old, when he Verfe 9. begm to Reign. ~] That is, when he began to Reign alone after b/is Fathers Death : but his Father when he was but eight Years old made him his aflbci- H h h h 2 ate 04 4 C OMM EN TART npo* Chapter ate in the Kingdom ( ^chron. XXXVI. 9. ) that he XXIV. might continue the Kingdom in his Family, and there L/"Wv might be no Contention among his Sons about it. Thus this Account, and that in the Chronieles are eafi- ly reconciled. When his Father had reigned one Year, he took him to reign with him : and fo he came to reign Ten Years with his Father, and three Months alone. Now here Ezra mentions only the Years he reigned alone, but there he fpeaks of all that he reigned with his Father and alone. Abarbinel gives another Ac- count of this Difficulty, with which I (hall not trou- ble the reader . it feeming to me a little more forced than this Solution of it. And the plaineft way is to acknowledge an Error in the Tranfcriber of the Book of Chronicles. And he reigned in Jerufalem Three Months, Sec.] And Ten Days as it is explained, 2 Chron. XXXVI. 9. but fuch fmall Numbers are wont to be omitted in greater Sums. SeeI.K/g/ XVI. 18. Vtrfe 9. Ver. 9. And he did that which was evil in the Sight of the L R D, according to all that his Father had done. ] A wonderfui thing, that he fhould not be moved to do better, by the fad example of his Father, and his PredecerTor. Verfe IO. ^er. Ia ^ *^ at iimQ *** ^ ervants of Nebuchadne*- 'zar the King of Babylon came up againfl Jerufalem, and the City was befoged.~] It is likely that Nebuchadnezzar heard he was entred into a Confederacy with the King ^>f Egypt, as his Succeflbr did $ and therefore fent an Army againft him, in the very beginning of his Reign, to lay Siege to Jentfalem^ againft which he intended to come himfelf. Some of the Jews fay, that the Counfellors of Nebuchadnezzar reprefented to him, how unadvifedly he had a&ed, in making him King, whofe Father had been in rebellion againft him: the Second Bool^ of K I N G & him : ufing this Proverb, From an ill Dog, werChapter comes a. good Whelp. Whereupon he refolved to de- XXIV. pofe him, and make Zedekjah King. L/"W^ Ver. ii. And Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon, Verfc II. came again ft the City , and his Servants did befiege /'*.] He firft fent an Army under his Great Commanders, and then came in Perfon, and found they had obey- ed his Orders, and inverted the City. Ver. n. And Jehoiachin the King of Judah aw*fVerfe 12. out to the King of Babylon, he and hit Mother, and his Servants, and hit Princes, and hjf Officers. ] He made a Surrender of the City into the Hands of the King of Babylon $ by the Counfel of Jeremiah perhaps, who advifed the fame to his Succeflbr more than once, XXI. Jer. 9. XXVII. 17. XXXVIII. 2. And happy was it for him that he obeyed, and gave up himfelf to the King of Babylon, for God declared by the Figure of Good and Bad Figgs, that he had fent them into the Land of the Chaldeans for their Good 5 whereas they that remained in the Land ftiould be removed into all the Kingdoms of the Earth, for their Hurt. See XXIV. Jerew. 5, 6, 7, 8, &c. And the King of Babylon took, hi** the eighth Tear of hff Reign. ] That is, in the Eighth Year of Mft* chadnezzar's Reign. For he began to reign in the Fourth Year of Jehoiakjm : who reigned feven more after that, which was the Eighth Year of Nebuchad- nezzar. Ver. 13. And he carried out thence aU the TreafuresV&fe ra* of the Honfe of the LORD, and all the Treafnres of the Kings Houfe. ] There being no mention of the carrying away of the Ark, either here, or in the Book of the Chronicles, or in Jeremiah, among the Holy things of the Temple, it is probable that it was burnt, together with the Temple in the next Fteign, wherr the- 606 A COMMENTARY pm Chapter the remaining Holy Things were carried away, but no- XXIV. thing faid of this. For what the Jews fay of its being v-*~V^^ hidden by the Prophet Jeremiah in a certain Cave in Mount Nelo, is a mere Fable : there being no Ark in the fecond Temple, as they confefs ^ which there might have been, if it had been only hidden, till the Temple was reftored. And cut in Pieces all the l r effels of Gold which Solo- mon the K-ing of Judah had made in the Temple of the LORD.] Trut is, all in a manner, but not abib- lutely all : for fome were remaining, or elfe renew- ed again ( which is not likely ) XXVI. 14, 15. And by cutting in pieces mufk be meant no more than thetr being cut off from the Temple ^ which was deprived of a principal Part of its Treafure : for thefe Veflels were preferved intire, and not cut in Pieces, as ap- pears from, V. Dan. 2 . As the LORD had faid."} By the Prophet Ifaiah unto Hezekjah, XX. 17. As for the Pillars, and the Sea, and the Bafes, and the refidue of the VefTels that were not now taken away $ they were only referved till the next Reign 5 when Jeremiah prophecied they mould be carried away alfo, XXVII. Jerem.iy, 20, 21, 22. Verfe 14. Ver. 14. And he carried away all Jerufalevt. ~] He explains what he means by the following Words : which reftrain it to the principal Perfons. And all the Princes, and all the mighty Men of Va^ lour, even Ten thonfand Captives. ] Among whom was Ezekjel : who began this Prophecy from this Cap- tivity. I. Ezet(. x, 3. and calls it our Captivity^ XL. I. Mordecai of (he Tribe oi Benjamin, was carried a- way at this time,ll. Efter 5,6,7. if we believe the Jews. And &U the Crafts-men and Smiths^ By Crafts- men fome underftand Carpenters : who were Artificers as the Smiths were. None the Second Boot^ of K I N G S. None remained fave the poorefl People of the Land. "] Chapter who were fo numerous, that Zedekjah was tempted XXIV. to rebel, and that againft his Oath of Fidelity to the King- of. Babylon. Ver. 15. And he carried Jehoiachin to Babylon, *#4Verfe the Kings Mother , and the Kings Wives, and the Offi- cers> and the mighty Men of the Land : thefe carried keinto Captivity, from Jerufalem to Babylon."} All that belonged to the Court, or that were of any Quality in the Country. See XXIV. Jerent. i. XXIX. i, ^. XVII. Ez4 12,15, Ver. 1 6. And all the Men of might even Seven Verfe Thoufand, and Crafts-men and Smiths a Thoufand : aU that were ftrong and apt for War, even them the King of Babylon brought Captive to Babylon.~\ This and the foregoing Verfes Abarbinel explains in this Manner. By the Ten Thoufand mentioned, v. 14, are meant in general the whole Number oiJudahznA Benjamin that were now carried Captive. Then here he comes to (hew how this Number was made up> ( v. 15, 16. ) Jehoiachin and all his Court, and great Men were teven Thoufand, the Crafts- men and Smiths a Thoufand. The reft were not mighty Men, nor fuch Tradefmen, but Minifters and Servants of the Court, and other confiderable Men in the Country who made up Two Thoufand more, and compleated the Ten thoufand. Jeremiah computes them to have been but a little above Three Thoufand that were now carried away to Babylon: But he reckons only thofe that were carried from Jerttfalem ^ whereas here is an account of thofe that were carried from other Cities, and out of the Tribe of Benjamin, which were Seven ; Thoufand. There was another Captivity before this io the laft Year of Ring Nebupotazzar ( I. Dan. i, 2, 3. ) but then only a few feh& Per Cons were carried i 08 A COMMENTARY upon Chapter away, to wait upon the King of Babylon : and there- XXIV. fore are not mentioned either by Jeremiah or by this t^VVi Divine Writer. But a very learned Friend of mine, in his late Chronology of the Old Teftament^ p. 49. thinks that the firft Captivity was the greateft of all ^ thofe Words, XXIV. 3. This came upon Judah to re- move them out of Gods fight, implying ( in his Opinion) that not only fome of the Seed Royal, with iome o- thers, but the Body of the People were led into Cap- tivity. And therefore he dates the Seventy Tears Captivity, from that time, viz. the Fourth Year of Jeholachim, in the beginning of the Reign of Nebu- chadnezzar. See XXV. Jerem. i, 1 1, j 2. Verfe 17. Ver. 17. And the King of Babylon made Matt ani ah hif Fatherf Brother King in hifftead ; and changed his Name toZedekjah.] Which fignifies the Juflice of God. And feems to have been given him, to put him in mind of the juft Judgment of God, which would fall upon him, if he broke the Oath of Fidelity, which he took to the King of Babylon, x Chron. XXXVI. i3.XViI.E*e*. 1 3, 14, 1 8. ' Verfe l-3. Ver. 18. And Zedekiah was Twenty and One Tears Old when he began to Reign $ and he reigned Eleven. Tears in Jerufalem, 8cc. ] In the end of which he was carried Captive, I. Jerem. 3. Vcrfe 19. Ver. 19. And he did that which was Evil in the fight of the LOJRD, according to all that Jehoiakint had done."] Not regarding what Jeremiah faid unto him, but (hut him up in Prifon, &c. XXXIII. Jerom. 1,1. x Chron. XXXVI. 1 2. and his Servants, and the People of the Land were as bad as hirnfelf, XXXVII. Jerom. i, 2. Verfc 20. Ver f 2o. For through the Anger of the LORD it came to pafs in Judah and 'jerufalem, until he had cafl them out from his prefettce^ that Zedekiah rebelled againjl the King vfBabylo*.] God was fo highly difpleafed with this the Second Book^ of K I N G S. 'this Wicked People, that he permitted Zedekjah to Chapter break his Faith with Nebuchadnezzar, and to rebel a- XXIV. gainft him: forgetting for what caufe he changed his Nam?. Unto this revolt it is probable, he was per- fwadeJ by the Embafladors which the Kings otEdom^ Moab, Amman, Tyre and Zidon fenc unto him, to To- licite him to throw otf the Yoke of the King of Bafy- /0/f, XXVII. Jm?#/. 2,3. 4, 8cc. Which was the great- er Crime, becaufe he had made him fwear by God, he would be true to him, i (3r merry , Nebuchadnezzar did not come himfelf to j- rttfakm. Rut he fent this great Man to execute his Commands^ who, the Jews fay, became a Profelyte* Verfe 9- Ver - 9* And, he burnt the Honfe of the LORDJ] Af- ter it had flood four Hundred Years, as Sir John Mar- flaw computes it. But Primate Vfler makes account it was burnt four Hundred twenty four Years, Three Months and Eight Days, after it began fiVft to be built by Solomon. But neither-of thefe Accounts are true, if we believe all the learned Jews (Kintchi, Rak bag, Abarbinel, 8cc. ) who agree that it Rood Four Hundred and Thirty Years. Jofephus ftands amazed at this> that the fecond Temple was burnt by the RO-- ntant^ io this very Month, and the fame day of the tylonth. Lib.V\. de Bella Judaico Cap. 27. And fo we. read in S&der Olam Rabba, Cap. XXX. That the Levltes were in their Desks finging the very fame Song in both Deftru&ions, which was this, He flail bring upon then* their own Iniqttity, and flaU cut them off in their ownWickednefs : yea> the LORD our God (hall cut them off. XCIV. Pfal. 23. And the Kings Houfe^ and, all the Houfes of Jerufa- lem, and every* great Mans Houfe burnt he with Fire. "] By Col bethgddol, which fignifies every great Houfe, the T*l0tudifts underftand all the Synagogues. But -Kratc hi, Rjlbag, and Abarbinel interpret the Words as we do. And fo the Targum : yea, Jarchi himfelf, who is the moft tenacious of the Talmudieal Interpretations, af- ter he had faid, Tht Houfes of the Synagogues, where the Law, and Prayers wereread^ adds thefe Words, and the Palaces of the Princes : not daring (as Vrtringa ob- ferveg ) to vouch the farmer for a literal Interpre_tati- .L\b t , tie fynag. P, a. Cap. XL Ver. io. . the Stcond Boo{ (/KINGS; 6 1 3 Ver. i o. And all the Army of the Chaldeans that were Chapter h the Captain of the Guard , brake down the Walts ofje- XXV. rufalem round about.'} That they who were left there L/*WJ might not be able to make any Refiftance hereafter : Verfe 10 and that it might no longer be look* upon as a City, but as an open Village. Ver. ii. Now the reft vf the People that were left in Verfe the City, and the Fugitives that fell away to the King of Babylon^ with the Remnant oft he Multitude."] That is, all that efcaped the Sword and the Famine : and all that fled to the King of Babylon^ aad put themfeives under his Protection. Did Nebuzaradan Captain of the Guard carry away.] Who were in all eight Hundred, thirty and two Per- fons : as we read in the LII. Jerem. 29. Where he faith in the Eighteenth Year of Nebuchadnezzar (that is, in the end of it* and the beginning of his Nine* teenth Year ) he carried away this Number. Ver. 1 2. But the Captain of the Guard left of the Poor Verfe of the Land^ to be yinedrejjers^ 'and Husbandmen.] What- (hould move the Talmudifts by the Hebrew Word Ce- remim to underftand Gatherers ofBalfaftt 5 and by Jfr gebim, fi[hers for Purple, is hard to underftand (though Bochartu* hath attempted forae account of it} when Je* remiah tells us exprefly that he gave thefe Poor Peo- ple Vineyards, and Fields: which (hews what they were, XXXIX. Jerem. 10. Ver. 13. And the Pillars of Br aft that were Houfe of the LORD^ and the Bafes, and the Brazen Sea that was in the Houfe efthe LORD; did theChald; way whole, therefore he brake them in Pieces and fo ~ tranfpprted the Brafs. of which they were mader -, V*. A COMMENTARY upon Ver. 14. And the Pots, and the Shovels, and the Snuffers, and the Spoons^ ami all the Veffds of Brafs wherewith they winijlred, to they away. 3 *4' Ver. if. And the l-jre I'd . andtheBouls, and fuck VerlC I5*l6%MJ as were oj Gold, in Gold ; and of Silver, hi Silver, the Captain of the Guard took urvay. \ He did not alter thefe, but carried them away as he found them $ that he might give a pun^ual account of them to his Mafter. And the fmgular Providence of God herein appeared, that thefe Veflels were not embezzeled, nor imployed -to any common Ufe, but put into the Houfe of the King of Babylons God, viz. Belvs . where they were preferred to be reftored, in Gods appointed time, by Cyrus. So we read they were, I. Ezra, 7, 8, 8cc. Vcrfc 1 6. Ver. 16. And the two Pillars, One Sea, and the Bafes which Solomon had made in the Houfe of the LORD ; the Brafs of all thefe Veffds were without weight^] So we read they were, when they were firft made, i Kings VII. 47. Verfe 17. Ver. 17. And the height of one Pillar was eighteen Cubits^ and the Chapiter upon it was Brafs : and the heightb of the Chapiter three Cubits : and the wreathen Work^ and Pomgranates upon the Chapiter round about, all of Brafs : and like unto thefe had the fecond Pillar with wreathexWorki] Thefe two Pillars are more fully defcribed in i Kingt VII. 15, 8cc. and in LII. Jerem. 21, Sec. Vcrfe 1 8. Ver. 18. And the Captain of the Guard took Serai ah the Chief Priefl, and Zefhanith the fecond Prieft.~\ Whom the Jews call the Sagan } who was the Deputy of the High Prieft, in cafe of Sicknefs, or any incapacity to officiate. And the three keepers of the Door.'] Of the VerTels of the Temple, faith Kitttchi 5 or of the Treafury. Ver, 19. tie Second Boo\ of K I N G S. rfi 5 Ver. 19. And out of the City he took, an Officer that Chapter was fet over the Men of War, and five men of them that XXV. were in the Kings prefe/tce.] Who conftantly attend- *^v*^ ed the Ring's Perion wherefoever he was. Verfe 19. Which were in the Cjty.~] Whereat firft they found but five of them$ but afterwards feven, LII. Je- rem. 26. And the principal Scribe of the Hop, which muftered the People of the Land. ] The Mufter-Mafter General, as we fpeak, or fome fuch great Officer. And threefcore People of the Land, that were found m tie City.'] Thefe were forae eminent Perfons who had concealed themfelves in fome private Place 5 but before Nebuzar adzn left Jerufalem, were di (covered. And the Jews will have it that they were the Men of the Great Sanhedrim: whofe whole Number of Se- venty One Perfons, they make a (hi ft to find here, a/z,. the three Keepers of the Door $ and the Seven near Attendants upon the King, and the Scribe . . which with thefe threefcore, make feventy one. See Selden Lib. 2. de Synedriis, Cap. XVI. p. 671. Ver. 3O. And Nebuzar- adan Captain of the C?W,y er f e 1Oa too^ them and brought them to the King of Babylon at Riblah.~\ That he might difpofe of them, as he thought fit: they being not vulgar Perfons, like thofe whom he had ordered to be carried Captive, or left in the Land. Ver. 21. And the King of Babylon fmote them, and Verfe lit flew them at Riblah, in the Land of Hamath. ~] Paf- fed the Sentence of Death upon them -5 which was forthwith executed : becaufe Jie .lookt upon them, it is likely, as the King's princi pal Counfellers, who advifed him to rebel againft him. And the Judg- ment of God, Strigdi* here obferves, was remark- able upon impious Priefts^ whom he fuffered not to live dig A C O'M MEN T AK T upon Chapter to live, becaufe they had been great Internments in XXV. promoting Idolatry. .L/^'VNJ -So Judah was carried away out of their Land."] Four Hundred fixty and eight Years, after the be- ginning of the Keign of David 5 Three Hundred eighty and eight Years fince the Divifionof the Ten Tribes fTOmJudah and Btttjamitt: and an Hundred Thirty four Years fince the Deftru&ion of the Ten Tribes .- as our Primate of Ireland makes account. Verfe 22. Ver. 22. And for the people that remained in the Land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar King of Baby- Ion had left. ~\ V. 12. Even over them, he made Gedaliah the Son of Ahik^am the Son of Shaphan, Ruler. ] His Father Ahikam >was a great Friend of Jeremiah, XXVI. Jerem. 14. and therefore Gedaltah may be prefumed to have been fo likewife . ana by his Advice, it is likely, was one of thofe that went out to the King of Baby- lon, v. ii. Verfe 23. Ver. 13. And when the Captains of the Armies, they and their Men, heard that the King of Babylon, had ift ade Gedaliah Governour. "] That is, fuch as fled away with Zedekjah^ v. 5. and thofe that fled per- haps before the Siege to the Moabitcs, and Ammonites^ zndEdovtJtes, and other neighbouring Countries. See XL. Jerem. 7 ^ n, 12. There came to Gedaliah to Mizpah^ even Ifhmad the Son of Nethaniah^ and Johanan the Son. of Kareah, .and Seraiah the Son ofTanhumetk the Notophathite, .andjaazaniah the Son of a Maachathite, they and their Men."] He reckons up the principal Perfons that came into him, with thofe under their command. Jeremiah alfo himfelf put himfelf under his Protecli- on, XLVL Jerew. 5, 6. Vcr. 24. the Second Book^ of K 1 N G S. tf 1 7 Ver. 14. And Gtdaliah fware unto "them, and to Chapter their Men, and f aid unto thent^ Fear not to he the Ser- XXV. vants of the Chaldeans, dwelt in the Land, and firve LX'VSJ the King of Babylon, And, it ft) all U well with JOH^\ He Verfc 24. was To well affined of the King of Batylont Favour to him, that he fecured them by an Oath they (hould be iafe under his Government : provided they would ferve the Kin^ of Babylon-^ which it was their Inte- reft to do. Ver. 25. Audit came to pafs in thefeventh Month.~\ Verfe 25. After he had been Governour about Two Months, w.-8, 6cc. That Ifo vital the Son ofNethaviah, the Sen ofEll- fbtimah. of the Seed Royal ] His Pride, being of the Seed Royal, temped him to confpire againft (Jedal/ah : though he had no Power to maintain any Authority in the Country $ but was forced prefendy to flee away. Nor was the King of Moa& who infti- gated him to this Vilany (XL. Jtrem. 14. ) able to-, tupport him. Cawe and Ten Mevwrth htm. ] The fe- Ten Men were Commanders, no doubt of fome Forces un- der them: for fo few. were not fufficient to make a Slaughter oiGedali'ah^^A all the Jctvs^ and Chald** ans that were with him. See XLl. Jerew. I, 2, 3. AndhefmotcQedaliah^ that he died^ and thejewtj. and the Chalde.es that were with hi#t at Mfopab. "] This Story is told more largely in- the XL and XLl. of ;' Jeremiah: where we read that Gedalia'j was admo- nimed of this intended Confpiracy againft him .-.- but, like other Good Men, who are commonly void of Sufpicion, becaufe rhey have no defign to hurt, others, he did not believe whit was told him. Ver. 2. A id a -I the People faa? and G*cat y and the V^rfe 26. Captains of the Armies arofe^ and came to Egypt $+ for *. Kkkk the; T I- A C M M E N "t A R f fon K . . Chapter they were afraid of the Cbtldees. ~] Contrary to the XX y. perfwafion of Jere&iah ( by whom they pretended W^VNJ they vyould be advifed ) who atfiired them that they {houltf be iate if they would ftay in the Land of JH- dah^ but mould perithifthey wentinto.jEgjp/. See XLII. Jerem.y, io,&c. Thus this populous and fertile Country was laid wafte and defolare, part of the Peo- ple being carried Captive to Babylon, part of thofe that were left in the Land, being (lain with Gedaliah, the remainder flying into Egypt. So that it was left to be over- run with Briars and Thorns, and to be inhabited by Wild Beafts. Only fome of the neigh- bouring Nations feem to have fettled themfelves in fome parts of it. See XII. Jercm. 14. XXXVI. Ezek, 4, 5- Vfe 27.^ Ver. 17. And % came to f aft in the Thirty Seventh Tear of the, Captivity of Jehoiachin King of Judah^ in the Twelvth Month^ on the Seven and Twentieth Day of the Menth.~] It was refolved on the Twentieth "fifth Day of the Month 5 and executed Two Days after. So this Place is eafily reconciled with LI I. In the Year he began to^Reign^ did Evil-werodach lift up the Head of Jehffiachim King of Judah, out af Prifon, ] Raifed him from his dejected Condition : for in Affliftion Men hang down their Heads. By this it appears that NebMchtdnezzar reigned Five and Forty Years ^ for Jeconiah was carried Captive in -the Eighth Year of his Reign, XXiV. 12. and now had been Prifoner Thirty Seven Years, when Nebu- chadnezzar was newly dead. Which Two Sums put together make Forty Five. This is the Account of *hS v . him of the King) a daily rate for every djy> all tbe days of bis JL.//V.]The meaning may be, that when he did. not eat with the King, he lived upon a Peniion.that was duly paid him every Day, for Meat, Drink, Cloathing, Lodging, and other Expenfes. Or if the Wot& continually (in the foregoing Ver fe) be underftood literally that he always eat with the King.- then this Allowance was made for his Family, and Attend* Lints-, as in the Caib of Mephibffjkab. 2 "Sam. IX. ro. Je- remiah in the conclufion of his Book gives -the fame account of the Kings extraordinary Kindnefs to him : which corftjb- *ued, he faith, to the day of his Death. ' F I N I PAgc $2.1.23. r. advifing him. p.45-U. thofe Words, [who is abte to judge this fo great a People, } fhould be printed in the Italick Our After be- ing part of the Text. f. 76.!. 1 5. r. by which means 9.83.1.20. r. called the Grade p.88.1 3. r. but was p. 1 09.1. 14. r. Tahernacle for it p. 1 20.1. 24.r.not prefcnt at the Temple p.i4i.F.ip. d See v. 15. p.i 5 2.1.21. r. propounding difficult p. 1 63.1.011. r. cJfed Aimitgim p.168.1.15. r. this relates p. 1 9 5-1-4- T.SalianMt p.I97-kl5. r. i..uaxr p.202.l.r i. r. Milgtyth ka*m 7-224.1.1. r. built them p.26y.l.2s. r. Morn tag Sacrifice P- 2 84.1. 1 3. r. UbrttA ofcula p. 28 $.l.i 3. r. QuinRiM p 308.1. 14. r. this difference p.^i.l.p. r. quiet them all P-3)8.l.2$. r. when they fay P- 34 1, 1.3 1. r. of which I know net P-3&3.I.25. r.HQIQ and'HOWQ p-41 7.1.4. d. rt tfifn before fix p. 4 3 3.1. 1 2. r. the Wordi p.443.1 3 i.r.obfcrved before fhowt p.448.I.2i.r. 1 Chro*. XXIII. p.468.1.pen. r. they beat him p-48s l.i.r. twenty feventh p.5oo.I.23.r. chief City p. 503.1.1 5. d. of God p. 504.1.6. r. not only 14. r. for the Sabbath p. 5 14 l.i 2. r. called Cutk p. 5 18.1.30. r. probable conjefturc p. S 2- 2. 1. 21. r. Jadd* ^324.1.3. r. who was p. 53 7.1. 3. r. at all his p. 5 44.1.11 It. r. as he is oft called p. 5 5 1. 1. 1 o. r. flull not come p $$7.1>28. r. either hours, or 'P. 5 5 8.1.2$. r. fit x*?a